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Raise your hand if you’ve already felt chilly this fall! You probably agreed that you’ve already felt the chill in the air, reaching less and less for those short-sleeved shirts and opting for long sleeves and sweatshirts, maybe even using a fall jacket in the morning or evening. Even if you aren’t bothered by the cold, you probably haven’t used your AC much these past few weeks and have already switched on your heat.
The first switch from AC to heat is a foreign feeling, often with an accompanying burning smell the first time it kicks on each year. Not to worry – that smell is common and not usually an issue. But do you know if your furnace is ready for winter or if there are underlying issues? Keep reading to learn how to tell if your furnace is ready for winter with some DIY inspection tips.
DIY Furnace Inspection Tips
The last thing you want this fall and winter is to switch your thermostat to heat only to realize it’s not working. Don’t be left out in the cold – try these DIY furnace inspection tips to prepare for the frigid months ahead!
Switch Your Thermostat from AC to Heat
The heat can’t kick on until you switch your thermostat from AC to heat. Depending on your thermostat, change the temperature settings and put it on heating mode to test your furnace. Turn the heat up to test if it’s working and producing warm air. If it is, reset it back to your desired temperature. If not, contact an HVAC repair service company that will inspect your thermostat and furnace to diagnose and repair your HVAC system.
Don’t be alarmed if you smell something burning when you first turn the heat on. Most often it’s simply dirt and dust that burns off quickly. If the smell lingers or smells like something is burning every time you turn your heat on, it’s time to call a professional.
Replace Air Filters
We can’t stress enough the importance of replacing air filters, especially if you have pets or loved ones with respiratory illness or chronic health issues. Why bother with replacing air filters? For one, dirty filters trap contaminants and particles that make it difficult for air to circulate through your home, putting unnecessary strain on your HVAC system. Next, a dirty filter only has so much capacity for contaminants, so if it’s full those extra particles will keep circulating throughout your home. Your heating bill will also be more expensive as dirty filters reduce energy efficiency.
There are many different types of home air filters, all with different Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV), rating how well they trap particles. Replacing your filter often results in better air quality, energy efficiency, and stable temperatures, and extends your HVAC system’s lifespan.
Test Your Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Every home has some sort of furnace installed, whether gas, electric, or oil. No matter the furnace type in your home, test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before your heat kicks on. Gas furnaces can produce carbon monoxide, and furnaces can cause fires if they’re not properly maintained. Testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors before your heat kicks on ensures they work to alarm you if your furnace catches fire or releases carbon monoxide.
Gas Furnace – Inspect Your Pilot
Older gas furnaces rely on a pilot that needs igniting before the fuel can be pushed into the combustion chamber to heat a home. Newer gas furnaces often have an electric control, but older furnaces have a pilot that needs to be lit if it goes out. If you have an older gas furnace with a manual pilot, you can inspect your pilot by removing the front cover panel to expose the pilot. Once exposed, carefully check for a flame; no flame means your pilot is out, whereas a weak or oddly colored flame can indicate an issue with your furnace’s burner. Contact a home HVAC repair company to assess and repair damage.
Oil Furnace – Inspect Your Tank Levels
An oil furnace uses oil to heat a home, igniting the combustion chamber, and circulating and distributing warm air through your home. An outdoor tank will pump oil from the tank into the furnace to heat the house. A great DIY inspection you can do on your oil furnace is to check your tank levels to ensure you have enough oil for the winter. Most gauges will measure and indicate when the oil tank is empty, ¼, ½, ¾, and full. Contact a fuel company to order and deliver fuel to ensure you have enough for the winter months.
Electric Furnace – Clean vent covers/replace air filter/inspect thermostat
Unlike gas and oil furnaces that use fossil fuels to heat a home, electric furnaces use electric currents to circulate and distribute warm air through a house. Though they’re more energy efficient, they still need inspecting to ensure all heating elements are in great shape. You can DIY certain parts of your electric furnace like replacing the air filter, cleaning the vent covers, and inspecting your thermostat for any issues. If you notice your system isn’t working optimally to heat your home, contact an HVAC repair service company for home HVAC repair.
Schedule your Fall Tune-up or HVAC Repair from Cates Heating and Cooling Before Winter
Cates Heating and Cooling has been repairing and installing home HVACs for over 50 years. We’re family-owned and operated with expertly trained technicians who have provided exceptional service to all our customers throughout the past five decades. Our HVAC repair service will get your furnace in great shape for winter while our furnace installation service will keep your loved ones warmer and reduce your energy bills this winter. We also offer 24/7 emergency HVAC repair to get your furnace repaired before the winter freeze.
We service Kansas City and surrounding cities, including the following:
& more!
Contact Cates with any questions or concerns about your heating and cooling and how we can help!
