Prepare your heating system to avoid unwanted shivering
Imagine turning on your furnace (when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing) only to find out that it doesn’t work. That would be miserable. You’d have to call a heating company and wait for them to have time to come fix it. And you’d be stuck in a house that could function as a giant ice box.
Well, that is reality for many Atlanta homeowners every year. Don’t let it happen to you! Here’s what you can do to make sure your furnace runs safely and efficiently when you need it.
- Turn on the heat now – Even if you’re not cold yet, it’s best to turn on your furnace now to make sure that everything is working correctly. Better to know now than when it’s already cold in your home.
- Know a stale smell is okay… at first – It’s common for your furnace to have an odd smell when you turn it on for the first time of the year. If the smell persists after an hour or longer, you may need to call a heating company to take a look.
- Replace your thermostat’s battery (if needed) – Some thermostats have batteries. Make sure it’s ready for the winter by changing it now.
- Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors – Home fires rise in the winter and many times the cause is the home heating system. Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
- Make sure all your vents are open – If you’ve closed any vents in your home this summer, make sure they’re re-opened.
- Clear a 3-foot area around your furnace – Many furnaces are located in the garage or attic. So homeowners often store things near their furnaces. However, this can cause problems as it blocks ventilation to the furnace and these things can also catch fire if stored too close.
- Schedule a heating tune-up – The best way to make sure your furnace or heating system runs safely and efficiently all winter long, get it tuned up regularly.
And, of course, if you need help, give us a call at (770) 421-8400 – we’ll be ready and waiting to help!
