How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter
Posted on December 1, 2016 by oozle
During the winter, we tend to turn up our heat as the temperatures drop. As responsible homeowners, we should make sure that we take care of our furnaces before cranking up the heat. Here are five things you should make sure to do:
1. Change the Furnace Filters Regularly
Plan on changing out your filters about every three months. You’ll know that it’s time to change them when it’s gray and there’s obvious dust build-up.
2. Stock Up on Filters During the Warmer Months
As with anything else, filters are more expensive during the season that they’re most in demand. Because furnaces are used more during the winter, they’ll be cheaper during the summer time. You can stock up on filters and set them aside until they’re needed.
3. Remove Any Items Stored Near the Furnace
This is especially important when it comes to potential fire hazards—furniture, clothing, papers, accessories, etc. Keep your vents clear by making sure that there isn’t anything sitting on top of or in front of your air ducts and return vents.
4. Fill Up Your Propane Tank
This is only relevant if you have a gas furnace. How much energy your house uses will determine how often you’ll need to fill up your tank. Some houses will need their tanks refilled three times a year and have those refills pre-arranged with a propane company. However, if you’re refilling the tank yourself, you should know that the best time to purchase propane is during the summer as it will typically be cheaper.
5. Take Care of Hot Water Radiator Valves
Not many homes still have hot water radiators. If yours does, then there are two things you should know. First, always remember to open the valves slightly and close them again if you see water appear. Second, don’t forget to bleed the valves. You usually bleed the valves when the heat isn’t working because of trapped air. To do this, you use the radiator key to turn the valve clockwise until the water starts to drip out. To learn more about this simple DIY, check out what the Family Handyman has to say about this process.
Check Out Our Infographic!
To help you remember everything we’ve discussed here, we’ve created this infographic. If you have any questions and would like to learn more, please give ProServ Las Vegas a call at 702-656-4500.
Contact Your Friendly Las Vegas Heating Expert
We hope you have found our infographic useful! If something is wrong with your furnace or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact ProServ online or by clicking the button below. We are happy to serve you!
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