The well-being of your furnace is perhaps the most important thing to ensure as we prepare for the colder months ahead. In Minnesota, the temperatures begin to drop quickly as soon as September hits, which makes it imperative to be ahead of any issues with your heating system now so you and your family can be comfortable later. Here are some tips to keep your furnace in working, perfect shape before we are faced with the blistering northern temperatures.

Annual Maintenance of Your Furnace Is a Must

Just like with any other major appliance or system in your home, furnaces need to have regular maintenance checks performed on them at least once a year to confirm the system is in working condition. A trustworthy technician should make their way out to your home and inspect all of the working pieces, clean them, add lubrication if the furnace is an older model, and vacuum in and around the system. This type of maintenance is not too costly, and it will most definitely be less expensive than a heating catastrophe in the middle of winter.

Change Out the Furnace Filter

Changing out the filter in your furnace is one of the most important components of an efficient machine. The regularity of how often you change out the filter depends on the quality of the filter you buy and the amount of usage it is experiencing. In the fall months, you may be able to wait a bit between filters, but in the winter when your system is running around the clock, make changing them out a priority. A general timeline for replacing filters is around 4 to 6 weeks, but you should always check them to be confident. You also want to make sure that the door to the fan part of the furnace is always completely shut to ensure you are getting all of the warmth throughout your home.

The Physical Condition of Your Furnace

You always want to make sure your furnace is in perfect physical condition – if it is not, you could expose yourself and your family to dangerous carbon monoxide. Make sure that there is no rusting or cracks of any kind within the structure. If you are inspecting it and you notice some fractures, you should call a professional immediately to determine what your next steps should be. Carbon monoxide exposure is not to be messed around with; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immediate physical reactions to carbon monoxide will be dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting, but if there is a high amount in the air, a person might lose consciousness or it could be fatal.

Call Northern's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® Today

Before we begin experiencing frigidity outside, make sure that you are comfortable and safe inside with a reliable, functioning furnace. To schedule maintenance service, furnace repair, or even install a brand new one, call Northern's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® today at (763) 284-8639. We are based in Ramsey and serve the Minneapolis area.