Is Your Heating System Ready for Winter?

We all feel some apprehension about winter, not only of the darkness and the cold, but also what might happen when you fire up the furnace for the first time. This year, don't avoid leave your home heating to chance. Make sure your heating and ventilation system is up to snuff before the cold sets in. Follow this helpful checklist for winterizing your heating system.

• Do a test run. Turn the thermostat up and see if you can hear your furnace turn on. Wait and see if warm air begins to blow. If it is not running properly, it may be the time to call in the professionals, who can assess which furnace parts might be malfunctioning.


• The most often overlooked and easiest to replace of all the furnace parts is the air filter. This is a simple step that can help your ventilation system run more efficiently. Cleaning and removing dust from vents and along baseboards will have a similar effect.


• Ensure that all of your heating vents are fully open and unobstructed by furniture. You need to make sure that ventilation is occurring evenly throughout your home.


• If you use a propane or oil furnace, check your fuel level before the snow falls and the price of fuel rises.


• Make sure to check for carbon monoxide leaks with a test badge or a battery-operated alarm. Failing to detect carbon monoxide leaks in your ventilation system can be deadly.


• If you aren't comfortable inspecting the furnace yourself, call a service technician to come and have a look. A technician can tell you how to increase the efficiency of your ventilation system by updating furnace parts or installing additional components. Heating technicians can also advise you on methods to improve roof ventilation to make your home more energy-efficient.