The first cold night of fall is when most furnaces around Delaware County wake up after months of sitting idle. If something is wrong, that's usually when you find out, along with plenty of your neighbors.

A fall tune-up is the simplest way to avoid that. Here's why it matters in Central Ohio, what a good tune-up covers and what you can check yourself before winter sets in.

Why Fall Tune-Ups Matter in Central Ohio

The first cold snap is the busiest time. When temperatures drop quickly, a lot of furnaces get turned on at once. Problems that hid all summer show up on the same few nights, and schedules fill fast. Getting your furnace checked before then means fewer surprises and more choice on timing.

The heating season is long. Your furnace may run from the first chilly nights of fall well into spring. Hard freezes usually settle in from late November through February, and cold snaps can push temperatures below zero. That's a lot of run time, and small issues like a worn ignitor or a dirty flame sensor tend to fail when the furnace is working hardest.

Freeze and thaw is tough on venting. Many homes, especially newer ones, have high-efficiency furnaces that vent through plastic pipes on an outside wall. Snow, ice, leaves and drifting debris can block those pipes, and a furnace with a blocked vent will shut itself off. Condensate lines can also freeze where they run through cold spaces.

Warranties and safety. Some manufacturer warranties expect regular professional maintenance, so check your paperwork. More important, a gas furnace burns fuel inside your home. A yearly look at the flame, venting and safety controls is good peace of mind.

What a Furnace Tune-Up Covers

Every furnace is a little different, but a thorough gas furnace tune-up includes these standard checks:

  • Air filter: check it and replace it if needed.
  • Burners and flame: clean as needed and check for a steady, even flame.
  • Ignitor and flame sensor: inspect the ignitor for wear and clean the flame sensor, two common causes of no-heat problems.
  • Heat exchanger: visual check for cracks, rust or signs of overheating where it can be seen.
  • Venting and draft: make sure exhaust leaves the home the way it should, whether through a metal flue or plastic vent pipes.
  • Gas pressure: test it and adjust to the manufacturer's specifications.
  • Blower and motor: check the blower wheel and motor, and clean or lubricate where the design allows.
  • Electrical connections: check wiring and tighten loose connections.
  • Thermostat: confirm it turns the furnace on and off correctly and holds the temperature you set.
  • Condensate line: on high-efficiency furnaces, clear the drain line and check the trap and any condensate pump.
  • Safety controls: test the limit switch and other safety switches that shut the furnace down if something goes wrong.
  • Carbon monoxide check: check for carbon monoxide around the furnace and venting.

When we're done, we'll tell you what we found in plain words. If something needs repair, you'll see the price before any work begins, and you decide what to do.

Your Pre-Winter To-Do List

A few simple steps between visits help your furnace run better and safer:

  1. Change the filter. A clogged filter makes the furnace work harder and can cause it to overheat and shut off. Check it monthly during the heating season and replace it when it looks gray or dusty, or as the filter label suggests.
  2. Clear vents and registers. Move furniture, rugs and boxes off supply registers and return grilles so air can move freely.
  3. Test your carbon monoxide alarms. Press the test button and replace the batteries. A good rule of thumb is a CO alarm on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. Check the replace-by date on the back, since alarms wear out.
  4. Clear the area around the furnace. Keep storage boxes, paint, cleaning products and anything flammable away from the furnace and water heater.
  5. Check exterior vent pipes. If your furnace vents through white plastic pipes on an outside wall, look for leaves, nests or overgrown plants. After heavy snow, keep the openings clear.

Signs to Book a Visit Sooner

Some warning signs shouldn't wait for routine maintenance:

  • Odd smells. A dusty, burning smell the first time the heat runs in fall is normal and should fade quickly. A smell that lingers, an electrical or melting-plastic smell, or anything like rotten eggs is not. If you smell gas, leave the home right away and call your gas utility or 911 from outside.
  • Short cycling. The furnace starts and stops every few minutes instead of running a full cycle.
  • A yellow flame. Gas burners should burn mostly blue. A lazy, yellow or wavering flame can point to a combustion or venting problem.
  • Rising bills. Gas bills that climb compared with last winter, without colder weather or higher rates to explain it, can mean the furnace is working harder than it should.

Schedule Your Furnace Tune-Up

Get your furnace ready before the first hard freeze. Call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Delaware, Ohio or book online 24/7, and see our special offers page for current deals. We're always on time, guaranteed: if we're even one minute late to your appointment, we pay you back. You also get StraightForward Pricing®, a 100% satisfaction guarantee for two years and financing options. We're independently owned and operated here in Delaware and serve Delaware, Sunbury, Marysville, Ostrander, Plain City, Johnstown, Alexandria, Raymond and nearby communities.