Simple Ways to Avoid Calling for Furnace Repair this Winter

January 27, 2016

Simple Ways to Avoid Calling for Furnace Repair This Winter

We always trust our furnace in the winter, whether we recognize that we are or not. To ensure that your furnace doesn’t shock you with any failures or problems for the rest of the winter, see that you are up to date with annual furnace maintenance. In addition to these annual tune-ups, there are some straightforward checks that you can complete yourself on your furnace system and decrease the possibilities of emergency furnace repair, such as:

  1. Checking your thermostat - your furnace problems could be as straightforward as exhausted batteries in your thermostat. While your system will generally give you a month’s caution before the battery dies, it’s not difficult to ignore the beep or light signal. If you examine and your batteries are good, make sure that your thermostat is positioned to “heat” instead of “cool.” It can also be easy to not remember to adjust this setting during the changing of the seasons, and you never know who’s been messing with your thermostat. Still no luck? You may have to alter your fan setting to “on” instead of “auto.” This will keep your fan blowing air, despite if your furnace is heating. But keep in mind if you complete this switch, you must also remember to…

  2. Change your air filters - furnace breakdowns are usually caused by dirty filters-- from the dust and particles that accumulate on your filter. This can force your furnace to overwork and can even give off a funny, burnt smell when starting up. Changing your furnace filters are the most painless way keep your furnace operating well.

  3. Keeping your air vents open – 1.many people think that shutting vents to vacant rooms is smart and it seems like it would save you money. But sealing off vents often pushes your system to work too hard and can cause distress on your furnace. Temperatures in heated rooms will escape into other unheated rooms through interior, uninsulated walls and generate a disparity in the comfort of your home.

By following these straightforward tricks and keeping up with your planned furnace service, your furnace should run smoothly and efficiently all winter long. If you haven’t set up your furnace tune-up yet for this year, give our professionals at Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling in Des Moines a call at 515-207-6569.