When the warm, sunny days of summer give way to the cold nights of winter, it is time to get reacquainted with your furnace and make sure it is up for another season of use. But you should not wait until the snow starts flying or the ground lies under a deep freeze to get your furnace ready. The time to have your furnace inspected is now, and doing so can keep your family safe, warm and comfortable all season long.
Leave the furnace repairs to the professionals
Even if you’re confident you know exactly what is wrong with your furnace, you should never attempt to make repairs on your own. Leave the furnace repairs to the professionals – they have the training and expertise necessary to make the repairs properly. Attempting to repair your furnace on your own is not just a bad idea – it could actually put the safety of your family at risk. If the repairs are done incorrectly, the risk of fire goes up, and that could leave you and your family out in the cold. Spending a few hundred dollars to fix your furnace right the first time could save you thousands of dollars – and possibly even your home – later.
Get an annual furnace tune-up
One great way to keep your home and family safe is to have a thorough furnace inspection done before the winter season arrives. Do not put off this annual inspection – the sooner you get it done, the better. Furnace repair personnel tend to be busiest in the winter months, but you can get a jump on things by scheduling your inspection and maintenance for late summer or early fall.
Stress safe operation
It is important that everyone in the home knows how to use the furnace safely. Be sure all adults in the house know where the control knobs are and how to operate them and make sure that every member of the family knows the location of the emergency shut-off valve.
Check the pipes
The pipes are an integral part of your heating system, and they should be inspected prior to the start of every heating system. Go down to your basement and check the area around the pipes. Make sure the pipes are in good condition, that the supports are in good shape and that there are no holes or cracks. Look for soot along the seams between the pipes. A buildup could indicate that the seams are currently leaking – or that they soon will be. When you come back upstairs, be sure to check the chimney. Make sure the chimney is in good shape and that there are no loose or damaged bricks. When properly maintained, your furnace can keep your family warm and comfortable all season long. When maintained poorly or in need of repair, the furnace can be a source of fire danger. Taking the time to inspect your furnace now – before the cold days of winter arrive – is the best way to keep yourself, your family and your home safe and warm.
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