Preparing Your Home Heating System for Winter

Poughkeepsie is no stranger to winter, making it crucial to prepare your home’s heating system for the plunging temperatures, wind, and snow. A good heating tune-up in Poughkeepsie is vital to keep your family warm, while also helping to avoid those unexpected and costly emergency repairs while stabilizing, or even lowering, your energy bills.

Are you wondering about your heating system as winter approaches? The team at Folkes Home Services is always here to handle all of your heating maintenance in Poughkeepsie, including repairs, new installations, and more. We also have some pro tips for getting your home ready for winter to save yourself time, money, and stress.

Why It’s Important to Prepare Your Heating System for Winter

Failing to maintain your heating system opens up your family to health risks. Beyond discomfort, here are some of the reasons to plan ahead this winter: 

Avoid Emergency Breakdowns

Prevent health issues and keep your loved ones warm by scheduling heating maintenance in Poughkeepsie before winter hits. A service call also helps prevent emergency breakdowns and protect everyone in your home on the coldest night of the year.

Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Skimping on heating maintenance leads to clogged and dirty systems, repairs, and more. The results? Your furnace will need to work overtime to keep your home warm, which directly results in spiking energy bills. 

Extend Your Furnace’s Lifespan

A new furnace, boiler, or mini-split is a significant investment that should last over a decade. Failure to maintain your system means more wear and tear on your system, which can lead to costly and premature replacements.

Avoid Carbon Monoxide Leaks

Carbon monoxide leaks are a deadly and silent killer. If there’s an issue with your furnace, like a damaged flue or cracked heat exchanger, your home could be at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Schedule furnace service in Poughkeepsie to guard against this deadly threat!

Enhance the Air Quality of Your Home

The air quality in your home can quickly diminish when your furnace blows dirty air into it. Regularly change your air filters, clean your vents and ducts, and check your system for any issues. The results can enhance the air quality of your home and remove allergens, pollutants, dust, and more.

Signs You Need Furnace Repair or Maintenance

Routing heating maintenance goes a long way to keep your system in good working condition. However, issues can still arise and it’s important to know the warning signs that your furnace might need attention:

1) Unusual Noises

Rattling, banging, or screeching sounds are unpleasant to listen to all night and can mean you have loose components or are in the early stage of system failure. Call the team at Folkes Home Services to take a look and we’ll repair or replace any loose components or worn parts that need immediate replacement.

2) Weak Airflow

Weak airflow from your vents could mean something simple like you need to move furniture away from your vents or change out your air filter. A blower or ductwork issue could cause uneven, inefficient heating in your home.

3) Inconsistent Heating

There’s nothing enjoyable about waking up in a cold room while another area of your home is boiling hot. Uneven heating and cold spots in only some rooms are usually an issue with your thermostat, duct system, or the furnace itself. 

4) Yellow Pilot Light

Your furnace’s pilot light should always hold a steady, blue flame. A flickering or yellow flame could mean a dangerous carbon monoxide issue that needs immediate attention. Turn off your system, evacuate your home, and call for help right away to ensure the safety of your household.

5) Rising Energy Bills

No one wants to spend a sudden increase on energy bills for no apparent reason. Erratic, spiking bills outside of a cold snap could mean your furnace is struggling to operate efficiently and needs an immediate repair to get back on track.

6) Unpleasant Odors

If your HVAC, furnace, or boiler smells a little musty the first time you use it, it’s probably a sign you have some dust on the system or vents, and it will resolve quickly. However, ongoing smells are usually an indication of mold, dust buildup, or mechanical issues inside your system. 

How Often Should You Schedule a Furnace Inspection?

Keeping your furnace in good shape requires annual inspections by a professional. Call the team at Folkes, ideally before winter sets in, and we’ll come out to:

• Check the thermostat for accuracy
• Clean or replacing air filters
• Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks
• Ensure proper airflow and lubrication of moving parts
• Verify gas connections and burner combustion

DIY Furnace Maintenance Tasks

Keep your heating system running smoothly by replacing or cleaning your air filters every 1 to 3 months. You’ll help improve the indoor air quality and keep your furnace working as efficiently as possible. If doable, we also recommend wiping off or vacuuming your vents and air ducts to keep them free of debris to maintain proper circulation throughout your home. 

While you’re working through your DIY furnace maintenance tasks, stay mindful about your system’s performance, including unusual noises or signs of weak airflow. Any of these signs requires a call to the professionals! Schedule an inspection or heating maintenance in Poughkeepsie with Folkes Home Services right away to fix the issue and prevent further damage or costly repairs.

Stay Warm and Safe This Winter with Folkes Home Services

Keep your household warm and safe this season with heating maintenance in Poughkeepsie, furnace inspections, and more. From repairs to full replacements, we’ll make sure you get the help you need to keep your furnace in good working order. Call Folkes Home Services today to schedule your appointment!