October Maintenance Tip

With winter right around the corner, have your furnace or boiler serviced before you’re stuck with a cold home and frozen pipes. A clean, well-adjusted heating system will provide better efficiency and prolong the life of your system. It’s recommended to have the system checked annually. Here are a few tips to keep your heating system in top working order:

1. Test your system before the end of October. Make sure the system turns on and warm air flows out of vents within a few minutes.
2. Replace your air filter.
3. Check all heat registers for debris.
4. MOST IMPORTANTLY, be sure to test your carbon monoxide detector. If the CO detector is hardwired, be sure it’s on a battery backup to ensure protection in the event of a power outage. You should have one detector per floor and at least one in the hallway outside any bedroom.

When having your furnace serviced, make sure the contractor checks for the following items:

1. Have the combustion chamber checked for holes or corrosion and cleaned for soot buildup.
2. Check the exhaust fuel pipe for holes that could leak carbon monoxide into the home and have the damper checked for proper draw. If the pipe is corroded, it should be replaced.
3. Make sure blower motor is clean and in good working order.
4. Make sure the heat exchanger is inspected thoroughly for defects or cracks.
5. If you have a boiler unit, make sure the pilot and burners are clean, pumps are oiled, the combustion chamber is clean and burning efficiently.

The key to an efficient, long-lived heating system is annual maintenance. Be sure to get it checked before you’re left out in the cold.