Prepare Your Furnace for Winter
Ensure Your Home Is Properly Ventilated
Many modern furnace require an external intake pipe for their air supply. If this pipe becomes clogged or blocked, your furnace will lose its efficiency, and in some cases, a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide can occur. If you have a high-efficiency furnace, make sure your intake and exhaust pipes on the exterior of your home are clear of ice, snow, bird nests, or other debris.
Anytime your air filter is clogged or your ventilation is obstructed in any way (such as blocked air return ducts). Your furnace is at a higher risk of overheating. Blocked vents and poor ventilation prevents cool air from circulating into your system and traps heated air inside your furnace.
Give Your Furnace Breaks
You’re going to be tempted to have the thermostat turned up frequently this winter, but if you can periodically find times to let your heating system rest, it will pay off. On average, for every single degree lower than your thermostat averages, your monthly energy bills will drop by around 2%. So, if you make a point to lower it by 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for seven or eight hours each night when you sleep. The amount of money you save will really start to add up.
Taking this strain off of your heating system also helps to keep it healthy and lowers the odds of a breakdown during the cold months. In addition to lowering the heat when you’re sleeping. You can also try occasionally wearing warmer clothes around the house or closing the curtains at night to help trap heat. These techniques will also allow you to turn down your thermostat without feeling too cold.
Keep Up with Preventive Maintenance
While a licensed HVAC technician should perform major maintenance, you can conduct some preventive maintenance on your own. Before you investigate your system, be sure to shut off power to the unit and wait for the blower to stop. You can then run a sound check by turning your unit on. And listening for any unusual banging or rattling sounds. It’s also a good idea to look for signs of moisture on windows or rust build-up on the vent pipe. This can indicate improper operation.
