During those first weeks of fall, throwing on your favorite pair of cozy socks or curling up with a hot mug of coffee makes the transition from summer to fall weather easy. Closing your windows or sleeping with an extra blanket is just right. But just as you’d wash your sweater before you put it on, you should check the state of your furnace before cranking up the heat.
“It’s really just a peace-of-mind knowing your system is good to go for the whole winter,” says Ben Koeppe, owner of C&K Comfort Systems.
And it turns out, prepping your HVAC system for winter can be just as simple as digging out your scarf and gloves, especially when you know your equipment. Koeppe's advice for any HVAC owner is to be familiar with the history of their HVAC.
An HVAC maintenance call will generally last about an hour.
“We’re going to turn on your furnace and check that your electronics are working correctly," Koeppe says.
The technician will also check your thermostat and pressure.
"We’re also probably going to change your filter,” says Koeppe. This can depend on how old it is, he says.
“I advise a change of filter every 60 days, cheaper filters more often. That’s the air you’re breathing, you want it to be clean. You'll keep yourself healthier and you'll have more energy," he says.
Carbon monoxide levels are also going to be tested during a start-up call. Koeppe advises his customers to use a hardwired detector that connects directly to a home's power supply for the best performance and dependability.
But what if your furnace is making a noise? "Leave that to me," advises Koeppe. "It's never a good idea to go poking around."
So, when would be a good time to take care of this fall maintenance?
“When it starts to get cool at night and people are thinking of turning on their systems," Koeppe says. "That's when it’s time to get it checked out.”
