Preparing Your Furnace For Upcoming Cold Weather

No one wants to worry about the bitter cold making it hard to stay warm in the winter time. Dealing with snow and ice are hard enough on their own. Living through the winter without having a proper heating source would only make it worse. For this reason, preparing your furnace for the winter weather is extremely important.

 

One way to ensure that your furnace is safe for the winter is to have an HVAC professional come and check it out. A licensed HVAC technician can help prepare your furnace for winter; there is no need to fight the winter months with a broken one. You definitely want it to get you through all of winter, not just some of it. Making sure your furnace is ready for the bitter cold is right for you and your family.

Tips for Preparing Your Furnace

With the winter months just around the corner, it is essential to know how to get your furnace ready for the cold months. From cleaning the areas around the furnace to checking the fan belt, it is necessary to follow these preparation steps in the months before the winter time.

Preparation Cleaning

Before you begin the cleaning process, you have to start the pre-cleaning process. Preparing your furnace for cleaning will make the whole thing go smoothly. Check out these pre-cleaning, preparation steps:

 

• Clean the Furnace Room – Cleaning the room that holds your furnace is the first step in preparing it for the winter. Some people may use this room as a storage area in warmer months. Cleaning the room before the winter time will cut down on future problems. It can even prevent a possible fire hazard when the furnace is in use.

 

• Clean the Ducts or Vents – Cleaning anything that might be blown out through your ducts and vents is necessary. It also guarantees that you will not have to worry about a fire hazard or the life of your furnace failing. The cleaning of the vents on your furnace is important if they are floor vents. Once you clean the ducts and vents, you will be well on your way to having a heated home.

 

Checking the Furnace

Checking your furnace before use is a vital step in preparing it for the winter months. It can be dangerous to use your furnace without first taking the extra precautions to make sure it is working properly. Follow the steps below to check your furnace:

 

• Turn the Thermostat On – By turning the thermostat on to heat before the winter months, you will have the chance to see if your furnace works. This means if it is not working you will have to check the fan, blower, heat pump, and even the wire connections. Checking these things will let you know if there is a problem.

 

• Change the Filters – It is important to change the filters every few months. Cleaning or replacing the filters will make the life of your furnace last much longer.

 

• Make Sure the AC Condenser is Covered – Covering the condenser keeps it protected from a falling icicle or anything else that may cause damage to it. However, only cover it if it is a condenser, not a heat pump.

 

• Check the Fan Belt – Inspecting the fan belt on a furnace is one of the most important things to do. Checking for wear and tears or any frayed areas will help you with knowing if it is time to replace the belt. It is also necessary for the tension of the belt to be checked. If it is loose, you will need to tighten it.

 

• Lubricate the Bearings – If you have an older furnace model, then you will have to regularly make sure that the bearings are working properly as well as making sure they are oiled. Be sure to not over oil the bearings. This will help you avoid a fire hazard.

 

• Close Blower Doors Tightly – You need to make sure you close the blower doors tightly to keep byproducts, like carbon monoxide from circulating throughout your home.

 

Once you have prepared your furnace for the winter weather, you will be able to have a nice heated home. You and your family will not have to worry about freezing during the long winter months. Keep yourself warm and cozy this winter with these tips. At Great Dane Heating and Air, we understand how vital your furnace is during the winter months. Contact us today at (866) 488-3263 to have one of our HVAC technicians help you prepare.