Getting A Furnace Ready For Heating Season

Fall 2019 has had a slow onset here in Connecticut – the leaves are only now beginning to change in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties as temperatures begin their annual descent.

But soon enough, real cold will find its way to CT – and when it does, you’ll be relying more and more on your propane- or heating oil-fired furnace to keep your family safe and comfortable.

Before that time comes, it’s smart to take care of some of the tasks that will help your forced-air heating system to operate at its best in the coming months. Here are five things you can do right now to prepare your equipment for the colder days and nights to come.

How To Get Your Heating System Ready

1. Change your furnace air filter – A clogged air filter will make your heating system overwork, which decreases energy efficiency, shortens equipment life, and can make a heating system breakdown more likely. Check your air filter once a month, replacing it (or cleaning it, depending on the model) when needed.
2. Check all vents for blockage – Make sure no drapes, carpeting, furniture, or other objects are blocking your vents. Good airflow is essential to keeping your home comfortable and your heating bills as low as possible.
3. Clean return air registers – Return air vents are a critical and often overlooked element of a forced air heating system. These vents allow the air that is circulating in your home to return to the furnace for reheating. Keep them dust free to maintain efficiency and indoor air quality.
4. Check / upgrade your thermostat – Your thermostat is a key to home energy efficiency; by using it to change the temperature when you’re home, asleep or away and you could save as much as 10 percent on your heating bill in the coming months, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. You’ll also save wear and tear on your equipment, which will reduce the need for heating repairs and increase the lifespan of your heating equipment. If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat, consider an upgrade – by making it easy to change temperatures in your home, the investment will more than likely pay for itself in the first year or two you own it.
5. Get your heating equipment serviced – The most important thing you can do for your heating system is to have it professionally serviced every year. Expert heating maintenance will help your propane or heating oil equipment run more efficiently and reliably, prevent costly repairs, and even help keep your warranty in place.

   If it no longer makes sense to repair or maintain your older heating equipment, consider installing a new, high-efficiency furnace.

It’s not too late for heating maintenance in CT! Contact us today to schedule your heating tune-up or to sign up for a high value Jennings Oil & Propane Service Plan.