It’s that time of year again when the weather is starting to get colder and the days grow shorter. Winter is right around the corner and for many homeowners, now is the time of year when they start turning up the heat, but if it’s been a few months since you’ve turned on your furnace or nudged your thermostat past 70, your heating system may require some maintenance first. One of he worst possible scenarios that you could find yourself in is that your heat stops working or doesn’t turn on when you need it. You could easily call an HVAC professional to come out for an emergency inspection, but wouldn’t it be better to plan and avoid this scenario entirely by conducting some heating maintenance? Now’s the time to check if your heating system in Kent is winter-ready, and here are a few tips that can help you along the way.
Turn on Your Heat Before it Gets Too Cold
The easiest way to check and see if your heating system is working properly is to test out your heat in the months before winter. Turn up the thermostat to the normal temperature that your home would normally be set at during the winter and then pay close attention to any noises or odors. If your heat system starts to make strange or loud noises, then that’s usually a clear indication that something is wrong with your heating. Alternatively, you may notice a slight burning smell the first time your heating system kicks on. Usually, the cause of the smell is merely dust that is inside burning off and it will subside in a short time. However, if the burning smell persists or if it smells more like burnt plastic or wiring, then there could be a serious issue with your heating system.
Clean or Change the Filters
Once you’ve confirmed that your heating still works, the next step is to clean or change the filters for your HVAC or furnace. After months of heavy use, a heating system filter will often have a thick layer of dirt and dust built up. A filter that is too dirty to let heat through isn’t very efficient and it causes your heating system to work harder at trying to push the warm air through. This can cause your furnace or heat pump to overheat or worse, stop working entirely. To keep this from happening, we recommend changing out the filters every three months or so.
Schedule a Yearly Inspection with Green City Heating and Cooling
The best way to ensure that your heating system is winter ready, is by scheduling an annual inspection for your furnace, heat pump, or HVAC system. Green City Heating and Cooling is a locally owned and operated company that provides heating, cooling, and electrical services to Kent and the surrounding King County area. We offer our customers reliable, efficient, and effective maintenance for your heating systems. Call today and ask about our cost-saving rebates!
