Use These Tips to Prepare Your HVAC System for Winter

When you imagine winter, you hopefully imagine a comfortable evening at home. But sometimes winter decides not to go along with our plans, and we’re left shivering in our own homes. You won’t always be able to prevent a blizzard from showing up, but you can prevent your HVAC system from being poorly equipped for winter. Nobody prefers or deserves an unreliable furnace, which is why we made this checklist for getting your HVAC system ready for winter.

Five Ways to Prepare Your HVAC for a Cold Winter

1. Cover Your Outdoor Unit and Clean the Space Around It

Since most HVAC systems have an outdoor condenser unit to dispel heat, you’ll want to see to it that the area close to the unit itself is clean of any yard debris. Clean 5 feet of space or so from any vegetation or rocks. It’s also smart to make sure it’s covered by a section of tarp or similar material over the winter. This keeps ice and anything else from getting inside the condenser.

2. Clean or Replace the Air Filter

Always evaluate and clean out your air filter, normally placed in your furnace’s indoor air handler. Dust, pollen, animal dander and many other kinds of debris can slowly accumulate in the air filter. If it grows unchecked, your HVAC system could lose efficiency and maybe even become a fire hazard. A fresh air filter allows air to flow more freely, sustaining sufficient ventilation and helping keep indoor air quality higher. To secure the most benefit from the filter, make sure to clean or exchange it every few months or in line with manufacturer instructions.

3. Clean the Blower

The blower is crucial to your Lennox furnace, and as an integral component it can collect a lot of wear and tear. Cleaning it on occasion will help it continue working at its best. Vacuum the area near the blower and brush the blades with a microfiber cloth for more efficient airflow. If you’re hearing any unusual noises or are not getting any circulation from the vents, get a professional technician to check your blower.

4. Search for Gaps or Dents in Your Furnace

Make sure that your furnace is free of visible damage on the inside or outside units. A hole in the air handler or flaws in the condenser unit outside may worsen all kinds of comfort problems, like heat leaking out before it reaches your ductwork. If there is obvious damage, speak with your local technician at Abilene Air-Tech Inc about examining the system before the temperatures begin to drop. This way you can avoid letting a small gap in the system transform into a major problem.

5. Test Your Furnace Before It Gets Too Cold

It’s always practical to make sure your furnace is working properly before its busiest season. If you don’t, your HVAC system may be unequipped for the first significant drop in temperatures. Performing a test run of your furnace can offer you the opportunity to notice potential problems then and there, while they’re still easier to solve. This also removes any dust that will often have piled up in the air ducts over the fall, eliminating that burnt smell. When your furnace is in working condition, you can sled away from these HVAC worries.

A Well-Maintained Furnace Is a Great Way to Welcome Winter

Winter weather is going to be on its way before you know it. If you spend some time to get your furnace prepped in advance, you can spend the winter enjoying the holidays, drinking hot cocoa or relaxing with your family inside a warm, cozy home. Be sure to follow the tips above to get your home ready for next winter!