Seven tips to get your furnace ready for winter
- Turn on the thermostat. Switch from cooling to heating and set the temperature a couple of degrees higher than the current room temperature. If you don’t hear the heat kick on within a minute, best to call in a professional.
- Change the air filters. You probably have air filters behind a vent grill in the wall or ceiling, or a single filter in the HVAC system itself. Change these filters every few months.
- Cover the AC condenser. Unless your HVAC is a heat pump (in which case, don’t cover it at all because it runs all year), cover the condenser to protect it from falling icicles.
- Clean the heat exchanger. “The heat exchanger should be brushed and vacuumed out annually by a trained professional while the unit is disabled. While it’s being cleaned, a technician will look for cracks, which could lead to a dangerous carbon monoxide leak into your home.
- Lubricate and clean the blower motor. First check the owner’s manual to see if your motor is the kind that needs lubricating. If it does, turn off the power, open the cover and clean the caps covering the bearings. Then remove the caps and lubricate the bearings.
- Test the igniter switch. On an old system, you might have to relight the pilot. Newer systems have electronic ignitors. If the ignitor isn’t working, push the reset button. If that doesn’t do the trick, check your breaker. Still not working? Call in a professional.
- Inspect the chimney and carbon monoxide detectors. Chimneys can house carbon buildup or even small animals. A professional should inspect them periodically.
To set-up a service appointment, call J C Heating & Cooling @ 215-945-4833 or 215-493-7455 today.
PHOTO CAP: Are you ready for winter?
