Prepping Your Home for Fall & Winter (Tip 4 of 5)
It’s hard to imagine in the middle of August, but cooler temperatures are coming. This is the best time to prepare your home’s transition from hot Summer days to crisp Autumn evenings to freezing weather in Winter. Each day this week, we will highlight an area of home maintenance homeowners should tackle now so they can focus on seasonal events and family holidays later this year.
#4: Furnace Filters and Inspections: Clogged filters make it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature and can serious increase utility bills. A simple monthly cleaning is all it takes to keep these filters breathing free and clear. Disposable filters can be vacuumed once before replacement. Foam filters can also be vacuumed, but they don’t need to be replaced unless they are damaged. Use a soft brush on a vacuum cleaner.
Once a year, it’s a good idea to have your heating system inspected by a professional. To avoid the last-minute rush, consider scheduling this task in early fall, before the heating season begins. An inspection should be scheduled sooner ifa system shows any of the following signs or symptoms:
Noisy Belts: Unusual screeches or whines may be a signal that belts connected to the blower motor are worn or damaged.
Poor Performance: A heating system that doesn’t seem to work as well as it once did could be a sign of various problems. Heating ducts may be blocked, the burners may be maladjusted, or the blower motor could be failing.
Erratic Behavior: This could be caused by a faulty thermostat or a maladjusted furnace.
