The chilly winter season has started,
but is your house really ready for the cold? Before you take out your winter
wear make sure your house is safe and comfortable with a pre-season evaluation before you turn on the furnace
for the very first time this season.
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Image Courtesy :https://pixabay.com/en/radiator-fins-metal-air-heat-2665428/
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Not
every system is GO
Before you turn on your unit, a thorough
pre-season examination is required to ensure proper and safe operation. This
preventive but simple maintenance keeps you and your family safe, secured
against unproductive operation and wasted power, and most essentially
decreasing the likelihood of costly and unexpected repairs on the coldest days
of winter.
How
do you actually execute a pre-season inspection of your heater?
1.
Make
sure you clear the way:
Get
rid of any objects that block airflow around the vents, furnace, and registers,
storing inflammable items inside a space which is away from the heating furnace.
Make sure you clean nearby areas with the help of a vacuum.
2.
Replace
air filters:
Make
sure you get rid of last season’s air filters and install new ones.
3.
Install
or test safety detectors:
Change
batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide to make sure everything is
working correctly.
4.
Make
a test run.
It
is advised to perform a test on your heater before the setting in of chilly
winter nights.
Get in touch with a pro.
Experts
suggest that you get your unit serviced every year. Professionals can easily recognize
a cracked combustion chamber or heat exchanger, which is usually invisible to am
amateur as well as get rid of other blockages in the vent that may cause carbon
monoxide leaks within the house. Professional inspection may also identify costly
duct leaks that reduce levels of comfort and cause a lag in system performance.
In case you notice any peculiar smells
when running the heater the first time in the season, there can be a range of probable
causes. If you’ve just changed the filter, you can discount any issue with the
filter. However, there could be dust on other components of the system such as,
the heat exchanger and air ducts that burn off with early operation – normally in
half an hour. Foul smells, however, must never be overlooked, as they may
indicate towards something important. A smoky smell may indicate towards a
chimney/ vent blockage, and a possibly lethal carbon monoxide level. In case
the issue persists and you have been able to change the air filter, get
in touch with a professional HVAC
service provider for maintenance and service immediately. Remember, it is
always a good idea to get the heating looked at by a professional instead of
doing it yourself.
