Heating systems play one of the most, if not the most, important roles in keeping your Massachusetts home comfortable in winter. They keep us warm, comfortable, and safe when temperatures outside start to drop. Much like any other appliance in your home, heating systems require regular maintenance to perform as efficiently as possible. Keeping up with the routine maintenance of your high-efficiency heating system will ensure that you are getting the most out of its energy-saving benefits.
Keep Up on Heating System Maintenance
A yearly inspection and cleaning of your heating system by a professional is always recommended. Even if you are keeping up with that schedule, there are still some things that you can do on your own in the meantime. Here are some tips to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your high-efficiency heating system during those cold winter days:
- Start Maintenance Early – it is important to start your maintenance routine as early as possible. Cleaning and inspecting your system will help you to identify any serious issues before they become a problem. This will give you plenty of time to have repairs done. The last thing you want is for your heating system to not perform well or even fail on a cold winter night.
- Check your Thermostat – Checking your thermostat is one of the easiest and most important parts of routine maintenance for high-efficiency heating systems. Inspecting and testing your thermostat will let you know exactly how your heating system is operating. A couple of times a year your should turn your thermostat up. You should hear your furnace turn on and your house should start heating up quickly. Leave the furnace on for several minutes to make sure that it runs continuously without shutting itself down. If your furnace shuts itself down within a couple of minutes this is a sign that you’re going to have a problem. You should contact a professional to run a diagnostic on your system before the issue becomes serious.
- Replace Furnace Filters – The purpose of the air filter on your furnace is to remove contaminants from the air that is being used by your heating system. Having cleaner air drawn into the furnace means that the system will run properly and much more efficiently. While the efficiency of your heating system is incredibly important there is another benefit of a clean furnace filter, it will improve the air quality for not only your furnace but also your home.
- Make Sure Ducts are Clean – Air filter cleaning and replacement need to be done on a frequent basis so it is often something that isn’t overlooked. On the other hand, duct maintenance and cleaning can be overlooked for a bit longer, making it easier to forget. Dust, Mold, and other allergens like pet dander can become trapped in your duct system and get slowly released into your home. It is very important for the quality of the air in your home to make sure that your ducts are kept clean, especially if someone in your home is a smoker or if you have pets.