Now that the State Fair has ended, the fall season has officially begun and snow is right around the corner, so you need to prepare for winter.
Here are 4 ways to get your furnace or boiler ready, and prepare for winter.
1. Get a Safety Check
One of the most important things you can do for your furnace or boiler to prepare for winter is to get a tune-up and safety check.
It’s been sitting all summer collecting dust and you never know if it will start correctly.
We recommend getting a tune-up/safety check at the beginning of each season in order to ensure your system is operating properly and safely.
HVAC Professionals will also check carbon monoxide levels in your furnace and confirm all working parts are running properly.
2. Change the filters
Although we recommend changing 1″ wide filters monthly, the 4″ wide filters should be changed preferably in September and April.
As stated in previous posts, changing your filter is one of the most important components of your furnace.
We’ve found newer furnaces do not receive enough air in the blower compartment with a dirty, plugged filter. Lack of air causes the furnace to malfunction or work harder.
Water Panels on humidifiers should be changed every winter.
When you get a tune-up on your system the technician should also change your water panel.
Neglecting to change your water panel can result in mildew or mold building up.
3. Reset your thermostat pre-sets
Thermostats are getting smarter and smarter and whilst you might be used to cooling your home from your phone, you need to be remember to heat it too.
If your model has a few presets left from the summer, they aren’t going to make sense anymore.
Set the ambient temperature at a lower threshold for winter.
You might also want to change any schedules to account for colder evenings and mornings since daytime is shortening.
If your thermostat links into a humidifier or any smart systems in your house, also get them ready for winter.
4. Reduce your heating bills
Winter tends to bring big heating bills across the entirety of Minnesota.
However, if you set your defaults to a comfortable enough middle ground that takes your fans into account, you can reduce your energy bill.
Also, adding humidifiers and small room heaters can also help regulate the temperature without you having to heat the entire house.
Conclusion
If you haven’t gotten an annual tune-up for your HVAC or furnace, add that to your to-do list, too.
The sooner you get your system checked out, the sooner you don’t have to worry about it breaking down during a big freeze. Contact Us at (651) 294-7798 to get started.
