Tips to Get Your Furnace Ready for Winter

Winter is almost here in the Pacific Northwest and even colder days are on the horizon. The most essential home need this time of the year is a fully functional furnace.

All home comfort systems have three basic aspects that typically determine their efficiency: the electrical settings, the ventilation system, and the blower mechanics. All play important roles in producing warm air during the cold months. As your trusted heating experts, we conduct system check-ups and tune-ups to determine loopholes in the system that could potentially cause heat loss, which in turn pushes your unit to consume more energy.

But the main culprits of heat loss and inefficiency are often easy to spot. By spending some time with your furnace you may be able to find these common causes and prevent expensive problems before it’s too late.

How to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter

The following are a few tips for preparing your furnace properly so that you can depend on it to heat your home as effectively and efficiently as possible throughout the winter season:

• Clean the spaces surrounding the furnace – Since it isn’t needed in summer, you can’t deny that your unit hasn’t been cleaned for months. This means the area around the furnace is probably full of filth. Chances are, boxes and other items not in use have been stored next to the furnace. Make sure all things that could block, overcrowd, or potentially obstruct the full working potential of your equipment are removed and cleared out.
• Check the filters – Dirty filters are one of the leading causes of an inefficient furnace or boiler. A dirty filter will make it difficult for the unit to effectively distribute heat throughout the home or establishment, which eventually equates to inefficiency. To ensure that the filter is clean and free of any blockage even before you start using it. Also, it would be a good maintenance action step to check the filter every month to see if it should be cleaned or replaced.
• Check the vents – With a screwdriver, go around your house and remove the metal cover of the vents. Check for any dirt or debris that might block the heated air. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the vent, removing any blockage or dirt accumulation. This will ensure that the heat being produced won’t be obstructed and the air quality isn’t compromised.
• Clean the air ducts – Just like dirty vents, unclean air ducts will compromise the air quality in the home or building and could block the flow of heated air. You may have tried cleaning it yourself, but it would be best to hire a professional to do the job.
• Schedule a professional inspection –  At Ronk Brothers, our expert technicians can reveal any issues that your furnace might have that you didn’t know about. By taking care of these issues, you’ll reduce the risk of having your furnace break down on you in the middle of winter when you are depending on it the most. Our techs will also lubricate moving parts as well as clean dirty parts, thereby ensuring that your furnace will work as efficiently and effectively as possible. You should schedule an inspection on a yearly basis in either the Spring or Fall if possible.

These are some of the tips that you should follow to make sure that your furnace is prepared for the upcoming winter season. These tips can help prevent the need for furnace repairs and replacements during the winter and can help you keep your heating costs down as well.

Your Northwest Authority in Home Comfort

The furnace professionals at Ronk Brothers Heating and Cooling understand that building trust is what drives long-term customer loyalty. This is why we strive as a company for 100% Customer Satisfaction. We’re confident we will provide the highest quality and even guarantee it, with our Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship and Materials. For all your heating and cooling needs, contact Ronk Brothers to learn why we are ‘Your Northwest Authority in Home Comfort’ for over 48 years!