When you imagine winter, you hopefully imagine a cozy evening at home. But once in a while winter decides not to go along with our plans, and we end up shivering in our own homes. You may not be able to prevent a blizzard from showing up, but you can prevent your heating from being poorly equipped for winter. Nobody wants or deserves an unreliable furnace, which is why we made this checklist for getting your HVAC system ready for winter.
Five Ways to Prepare Your HVAC for a Cold Winter
1. Cover Your Outdoor Unit and Clear the Space Around It
Since most HVAC systems have an outdoor condenser unit to discharge heat, you'll want to ensure that the area surrounding it is clean of any yard debris. Clean 5 feet of space or so from any plants or objects. It's also smart to make sure it's protected by a bit of tarp or similar material during the winter. This keeps ice and anything else from getting inside the condenser.
2. Wash or Replace the Air Filter
Always evaluate and clean out your air filter, customarily found in your furnace's indoor air handler. Dust, pollen, animal dander and many other contaminants can slowly accumulate in the air filter. If it continues unchecked, your heating can lose efficiency and potentially even become a fire hazard. A fresh air filter allows air to flow easily, maintaining sufficient ventilation and helping keep indoor air quality healthy. To enjoy the most benefit from the filter, make sure to clean or change it every few months or according to manufacturer instructions.
3. Clean the Blower
The blower is crucial to your Lennox furnace, and as an essential component it can collect a lot of wear and tear. Cleaning it now and then will help keep it in great shape. Vacuum the area around the blower and brush the blades with a microfiber cloth for optimal airflow. If you’re hearing any unusual noises or are not getting any circulation from the vents, hire a professional technician to check out your blower.
4. Look for Gaps or Dents in Your Furnace
Make sure that your furnace doesn't have visible damage on the inside or outside units. A hole in the air handler or flaws in the condenser unit outside may play a role in all sorts of comfort problems, such as heat escaping before it moves into your ductwork. If there is obvious damage, speak with your local technician at Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning about examining the system before the temperatures begin to drop. This way you can avoid letting a slight gap in the system transform into a major problem.
5. Test Your Equipment Before It Gets Too Cold
It's always practical to make sure your furnace is functioning properly before its busiest season. Otherwise, your heating could be unequipped for the first real drop in temperatures. Conducting a test run of your heating can offer you the opportunity to notice potential problems then and there, while they're still simpler to correct. This also eliminates any dust that may have gathered in the air ducts beforehand, getting rid of that burnt smell. As soon as your furnace is in working shape, you can sled away from any HVAC worries.
A Well-Maintained Furnace Is a Great Way to Welcome Winter
Winter weather should be on the way before you know it. If you spend some time to get your furnace prepped beforehand, you can spend the rest of the season enjoying the holidays, having hot cocoa or hanging out with your family inside a warm, cozy home. Remember to follow the tips above to get your home prepped for next winter!