It’s terrible when you’ve done everything to get the house ready for winter only to find out the heat isn’t coming on when you hit your first cold day. For whatever reason, it seems like people just assume the heat will work even after six or more months without it turning on.
There are a few things that should be done to make sure that it does work. Even if it is working, it also needs to be working efficiently and at its maximum potential. In this article, we will go over several things to do to make sure your heater will work when you need it most.
1 – Call an HVAC tech
Before the cold of winter sets in, you should have somebody come and take a look. Call the technician that installed your heater as they understand what needs to be done. Boiler installation by Lacey Plumbing, for example, should be followed up later by them to make sure that things are working as it should.
They have the equipment and the knowledge to get it done quickly and make sure to fix anything that isn’t working. They can clean your ducts and even flush the boiler if it needs it.
Many have a checklist of close to a dozen items to check for. They vacuum out the blower and even check the wiring. However, there are things that you can do yourself if you feel comfortable.
2 – Change the air filters
One thing that homeowners can do themselves, and should, is to change the air filters. They need to be changed every 30 to 45 days during the winter so it doesn’t make sense to call a technician to do this. It’s also a very simple procedure.
The air filter will determine how efficient your heater is. If you have pets or there is a lot of dust in your home then not cleaning the filter will make the heater have to work harder to heat the air or water if you are using a hydronic system.
Make sure to find the model number for your brand and then have the filters on hand. Check them every 30 days to see how dark they are and change them accordingly.
3 – Think about a new one
Once your heater hits the 20 year old mark then you are rolling the dice as to whether it is going to be ready to go this winter when you fire it up for the first time. Even if it does work and starts right up, it certainly is only a matter of time before it stops working.
One thing is for sure and that is that it is not nearly as efficient as today’s models that are rated for efficiency. You are definitely spending more money than you need to and are not heating the house to its full potential. Check for some local discounts or rebates for switching to an energy efficient model and save some money.