Although fall has just started, it’s never too early to prepare your home for winter. Just like in summer, your home HVAC needs to work a little harder during winter to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. You don’t want it to get below zero just to have your heating system conk out right when you need it the most. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it can also do major damage to your home, like causing pipes to freeze up, which can do thousands and thousands of dollars in damage.

Here are three things you can do today to prep your home heating system for winter, protecting both your house and your wallet.

Test Your System

The first step any homeowner will want to take to protect their home from winter is to make sure it’s working properly in the first place! If the heating has been off for a while, it’s possible that a part may have eroded, a connection fell off, etc. And finding out your heating system isn’t working when it’s already cold out will probably not be fun!

First, visually inspect your system for anything that might look like damage. That means looking at the furnace, the lines, air filters (more on those below), etc. Second, test your thermostat to make sure it’s properly controlling the furnace. Turn the temperature up to make sure the furnace kicks in. Similarly, turn it down to make sure it turns off.

Fill the Cracks

Inspect your foundation for cracks and fill them in with caulk or another type of sealant. Be sure to inspect both inside and outside, as cracks in your foundation can appear on both. Additionally, you’ll want to inspect around doors and windows for openings and fill in the gaps with caulk.

This is probably the most important thing you can do to ensure your HVAC unit isn’t working overtime. The more cracks and openings a house has, the easier it is for warm air to escape, which means your HVAC needs to work that much harder just to maintain the right temperature inside.

Change Furnace Filters & Clean Ducts

Furnace filters tend to get clogged up fairly regularly, which is why it’s smart to change or clean them as regularly. A clogged filter also forces your HVAC unit to work harder to maintain temperatures. By cleaning or replacing the filter, you can ensure that your home stays toasty without burning money.

Additionally, be sure to clean out your air ducts. Not only does this help maintain good air quality in your home, but it also ensures the work you did to replace or clean the filter doesn’t go to waste, as dust and other stuff in the duct will accumulate over time, making their way to the air filter.

Want some help prepping your home heating system for winter? We’re here for you! Schedule a visit from one of our experts to conduct an inspection and provide you with a full report and recommended maintenance.

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