Before the first truly cold nights arrive, homeowners should take a few simple steps to prepare for heating season. Scheduling heating system maintenance in Olympia, WA, with our team is one of the most important steps, but you can also work through this checklist to help your home transition from cooling to heating safely.
Shut Down Your AC
If you are finished using your air conditioner for the season, turn the system off at the thermostat. Once the outdoor unit is no longer running, clear away leaves, grass clippings, branches, and other debris that have collected around it. Gently cleaning the exterior can help keep the unit tidy through the offseason. Avoid taking the cabinet apart or attempting repairs yourself.
Give Your Heating System Room
Before turning on your furnace, look around the heating equipment and make sure there is adequate space around it. Remove boxes, storage items, clothing, cleaning supplies, and other belongings that have accumulated nearby. Keeping combustible materials away from heating equipment is an important safety step, and clear space also gives our technicians better access during service.
Check Your Vents
Walk through your home and check each supply and return vent. Make sure vents are open and aren’t blocked by furniture, rugs, curtains, toys, or other household items. Your heating system needs a clear path for distributing and returning air.
Change the Furnace Filter
A clean furnace filter helps your system move air without unnecessary resistance. Replace the filter if it is dirty or due for a change, following the manufacturer’s recommendations for size and type. Homes with pets, allergies, renovation dust, or heavy system use may need more frequent filter changes. Never operate the furnace without the appropriate filter installed.
Test Smoke and CO Detectors
Test every smoke and carbon monoxide detector in the home. Press the test button on each device and replace batteries when needed. Check detector placement and expiration dates as well. Carbon monoxide is especially important to consider when a fuel-burning furnace is operating, so never ignore a detector alarm or warning.
Schedule Professional Fall Maintenance
These homeowner checks are helpful, but they are not a substitute for professional HVAC maintenance. Our team can perform a much more in-depth inspection, cleaning, testing, and adjustment of the heating system. Professional service can uncover issues that aren’t visible from the outside, evaluate components and electrical connections, check operation and airflow, and identify developing problems before they become inconvenient winter breakdowns.
Remember Heat Pumps Need Two Visits
If you have a heat pump that operates year-round, remember that it needs professional maintenance twice a year. A spring visit prepares it for cooling, while a fall visit prepares it for heating. Because the system works through both seasons, twice-yearly service helps keep its components inspected and operating as they should.
Get Ready Before the Cold Arrives
Use this checklist as a starting point, then let our expert team handle the detailed work. Scheduling fall HVAC maintenance now gives you an opportunity to address concerns before colder weather arrives and helps your heating system start the season ready to go.
Your comfort is our business at Americool Heating & Air Conditioning! Contact us today for expert answers about heating system maintenance in Olympia, WA.