Steps to Winterize Your Heating System

Cool weather is on its way, and soon you’ll be ready to turn on your furnace. Before that day comes, it’s a good idea to take some winterization steps. Annual autumn maintenance will prepare your system to operate at peak performance over the next several months. Plus, caring for your heating system may improve its efficiency and help it last longer.

Clean Up the Unit

To run well, your furnace needs to be clean. Fall maintenance should include cleaning the combustion chamber, the burner tubes, the fan blades, and the flue. It’s also a good idea to remove mold or mildew clogs from the drain line.

Change the Filter

If your furnace filter is caked with dust and debris, it will be hard for air to flow properly through your system. Plus, a dirty filter can release dust into your indoor air. Fortunately, this maintenance job is an easy one to take care of. The old filter comes out, and a fresh one goes in!

Pay Attention to Your Thermostat

It’s important to make sure that you’re actually achieving the temperatures you want from your furnace. That’s what calibrating the furnace is all about. An HVAC tech can use calibration tools for the job and make skillful adjustments as necessary.

Make Sure the System Is Safe

Faulty furnaces can release deadly carbon monoxide into your house. Problems with the flue pipes or the heat exchanger, especially holes or cracks, can cause this problem. So, too, can blower motor or venting issues. It’s imperative that you have a professional check for potential concerns before running your furnace each year.

Inspect the Moving Parts

Your furnace’s moving components are particularly subject to wear and tear. It’s a good idea to check each one to make sure that it’s still in good shape. If not, it may be time for a replacement part. Perhaps you’ll need to swap out a belt or replace the ignitor.

Also, the bearings may need fresh oil. That reduces friction, improves efficiency, and reduces the likelihood that they’ll wear down the blower gears. It is always best to have a professional come for inspection.

Schedule an Autumn Tune-up

Sure, changing the air filter once a month is a job you can do yourself. Most HVAC winterization tasks, though, are best left to the pros. That’s why you’ll want to schedule an annual tune-up in the fall.

During a maintenance visit, your technician will take care of many of the winterization tasks on this list. If your drain line is clogged with mold or the bearings are short on oil, the tech will fix the issue. Other steps in the process will include checking for frayed wires, cracked pieces, worn belts or loose components. The tech will run tests to make sure that the furnace is lighting properly and the right amount of power is running through the system.

Plus, your maintenance technician will save you time and effort. Your tune-up services will include cleaning your furnace and changing the filter.

By the end of your maintenance visit, you can count on having a heating system that’s ready to run this winter.

Join a Maintenance Plan

As long as you’re scheduling a tune-up, why not sign up for our HVAC Maintenance Plan? Our Preferred Customer Plan includes annual HVAC maintenance visits. When you’re a member, you can count on us to keep a detailed log of your maintenance care. That way, you’ll have a record you can depend on in the event that you need to make a warranty claim.

Joining our plan doesn’t only have maintenance benefits. When it comes to repairs, we’ll give you a discount on parts as well as priority scheduling. We work on all makes and models, so you can count on our techs being there for your heating repair needs.

Bruce Heating & Air serves heating and cooling customers in the Kennewick, Pasco, Richland and West Richland areas. We provide annual maintenance services as well as repairs and replacements. Whether your project is residential or commercial, we can help. In addition, our team does sheet metal fabrication and cares for fireplaces, ductwork and air purifiers. In business since 2002, we’re here for your furnace maintenance needs and more!

Reach out to Bruce Heating & Air in Kennewick to learn more about the heating maintenance services we can provide! We also offer heat pump solutions too!