A short fall checklist that helps your furnace start the season clean, safe and efficient, before the first cold snap.
The first truly cold night of the season is the worst time to find out your furnace has a problem. Half of Calgary turns their heat on that same week, and service calls pile up fast. A little preparation in late summer avoids that scramble.
Your fall furnace checklist
- Replace the filter. Start the season with a fresh one, and write the date on the frame so you know when it went in.
- Test the thermostat. Switch to heat, raise the setting a few degrees and make sure the furnace responds. Replace thermostat batteries if it uses them.
- Clear the area around the furnace. Move storage boxes, paint cans and anything flammable away from the unit.
- Open and clear every vent. Summer furniture moves often end with a couch over a floor register.
- Test your carbon monoxide detectors. Every home with a gas furnace should have working CO detectors, especially near bedrooms.
- Book a professional cleaning. A technician cleans the burner, heat exchanger area and blower, then tests that the system runs properly.
Listen on the first start-up
Some dust burning off the heat exchanger on the very first run is normal and usually smells for a short time. Banging, squealing, a smell that doesn't go away, or a furnace that starts and stops repeatedly are not normal. Shut it off and call a professional.
Don't forget the ducts
If your ducts haven't been cleaned in years, fall is a good time to do both. A clean furnace pushing air through dirty ducts still spreads that dust around your home.
Book your fall furnace cleaning early. Call 403-651-5895.
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