Face it, the winter months are tough enough without your furnace breaking down. Routine furnace maintenance is a preventative service that involves inspections of your system to keep things operating at peak performance through the entire cold season. Simple maintenance tasks can help keep your furnace in tip-top shape. So even if you missed your annual furnace repair in Saratoga, CA, there is still time. Here are some things you can do now to help your furnace through the winter season:
1. Retire the A/C for the Season
Start by turning off your air conditioning for the winter. Switch the mode on your thermostat to off or heating. There is also an outdoor switch you can turn off to prevent the air conditioner from accidentally kicking on. If you live in an area with wind storms or snowfall during winter, it is a good idea to clean the outdoor unit, remove any debris, and cover it for the season. This will help keep dirt out of the system so it is ready to use come the warmer months.
2. Change the Furnace Filter
One of the easiest steps in furnace maintenance is checking and replacing the air filter. Keeping the filter clean will help your system run more efficiently and reduce indoor contaminants throughout the season. This is especially important in winter when you want to keep germs and bacteria to a minimum. The filter is something you should check every month and replace approximately every three months. And if you haven’t, now might be a good time to upgrade to high-efficiency filters that attract more particles rather than letting them pass through.
3. Clean Vents and Registers
As you can imagine, the floor vents and registers for your HVAC system are magnets for dust and buildup. They can attract pet hair, dust bunnies, food scraps, toys, and even rodents or pests. So every winter you should remove your floor vents to clean them and vacuum out loose debris. This will help the system run more efficiently and keep pollutants out of the air.
4. Test the Thermostat
Start all checks at the thermostat. When you switch the mode, turn up the heat and listen for the system to turn on and for the fans to run continually. The heating system should run without any loud thunks, screeches, or grinding sounds. If the system runs as it should, and does not short cycle, then you should be ready. The first few times the furnace runs you might notice a slight burning smell as dust burns out of the system. But after that, the smell should subside. If you do hear odd sounds or smell something odd you should call for HVAC service.
5. Service Your Furnace Every Year
You should have a professional technician take a look at your heating system every year. These preventative checks and services will help keep the system working at peak performance. It will also help keep you ahead of most major breakdowns and can prolong the life of your furnace.
Looking to schedule your annual furnace repair in Saratoga, CA? Do not wait to call the experts at Pelle Heating & Air Conditioning.
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