Fall Furnace Start-Up Tips for Mansfield, Ohio

A lot of people tend to wait until it’s already cold outside to switch on their furnaces, only to discover that during the summer a problem has cropped up, and their heat is out. Taking some time now to turn the furnace on a little early can allow Mansfield residents to be prepared for the chilly fall temperatures. If things aren’t working right, they can call a professional and have it repaired early on.

But before cranking up that heating system, it’s probably wise to take a look at the filter. A dirty filter limits the furnace’s ability to perform at its maximum capacity.
The humidifier pad should be examined and activated if needed, and the water tap to the humidifier switched on.

More modern systems often include a seasonal bypass feature that may need to be switched to its “winter” setting. It’s best to go ahead and replace the batteries on all gas detectors, smoke alarms, and thermostats. Starting up the heater at the main thermostat and giving it time to run is the easiest way to make sure it’s heating properly.

Listed below are a few helpful pointers Mansfield homeowners can use to make sure their furnaces work perfectly all throughout the fall and winter:

1. Get the heating system professionally examined and calibrated every year to make sure it works safely and efficiently prior to the cold weather getting there. Implementing a consistent maintenance plan is highly advised for the safe and cost-effective performance of any heating system. A furnace that is taken care of operates more proficiently, thereby minimizing power consumption. If the heater is new, it should be serviced every year to ensure the warranty stays valid.

2. Make sure the space near the furnace is kept clear so that the unit’s air vent stays open. Avoid storing any flammable supplies in the area of the heating system.

3. Inspect the furnace’s filter every month for the highest level of air purifying effectiveness. Dirty media filters should be swapped out as well. Dirt and dust particles will eventually obstruct essential components, forcing the heater to operate twice as hard and ultimately stop working completely.

4. Keeping the thermostat setting too low might cause more power to be consumed to heat the home back up than what may have been saved. The thermostat setting never needs to be turned down over 6°C under the regular home setting during the winter months.

5. Furnaces that are 15 years old or more probably need to be replaced. Even old heaters that have been well-maintained often only use about 60% of the warmth accessible to them for heating the home, meaning that 40 cents out of each utility dollar is washed down the drain. Newly-installed energy-efficient furnaces provide 94% or more. A couple additional perks of having a new system are an increased home value and more balanced, comfortable heating.