6 Ways To Maintain Your Heating System

In northern climates a heating system is not an optional appliance, it is a necessity. 

During a normal winter in Minnesota, outdoor temperatures regularly dip to below zero degrees Fahrenheit. A zero-degree day is not a good day to find out your boiler, furnace, or heat pump is not working properly!

A heating repair can be expensive and inconvenient. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to help prevent some of the common issues that your HVAC system may have during the coldest months of the year.

Replace Your Heating System’s Air Filter

A dirty air filter can cause a host of problems including:

• your HVAC system overheating as a result of inadequate airflow
• premature blower motor failure
• poor indoor air quality
• excess dirt build-up on essential components

Check your filter monthly and change it when it starts to look dirty.

Below is a picture of where the filter is usually located on a furnace.

Open All Registers and Grilles

Air vents that are closed or blocked can cause an overheating fault, inefficiency, and pressure imbalances throughout the house.

These pressure imbalances can cause: 

• Temperature imbalances
• Mold and mildew
• Carbon monoxide
• Humidity problems in the ductwork and structure of the home

Walk around your house and check all of the vents. Make sure that each vent is open, clean, and unblocked.

Check The Exhaust and Intake Vents

Clogged or blocked exhaust or intake venting will cause your heating system to not work correctly and may cause safety concerns as well. Walk around the outside of your house to find your vent outlets. Make sure that each vent is not blocked by snow, ice, plants, or anything else. Outdoor vents are a favorite home for wasps and other unfriendly creatures so be careful when doing this.

Replace The Batteries in Your Thermostat

A thermostat requires power to operate your comfort equipment. This power is provided either by batteries or by your HVAC system. If your thermostat loses power it will not be able to turn your unit on! Check to see if your thermostat uses batteries and replace the batteries if necessary.

Test Your Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detector Alarms

While modern heating systems are equipped with many safety controls they can still pose a health and safety risk. Most carbon monoxide and smoke alarms have an expiration date which is usually located on the back of the alarm. Make sure each alarm is not expired, hit the test button to make sure it is working, and replace the batteries.

Schedule a Professional Maintenance

A qualified and professional HVAC technician can check, clean, or replace components in your heating equipment to lower the possibility of it breaking down on the coldest day of the year and make sure it is running safely and efficiently.

Modern systems have come a long way through the ages. They have come from open fires, to vented fireplaces, to coal and oil furnaces, and now to 98% efficient gas-fired units and even heat pumps that heat efficiently down to -8 degrees. However, they still require maintenance to run safely, efficiently, and effectively. There are many things that you can do to keep your unit running in tip-top shape this winter, but we are here to help along the way. Call 507-428-7120 or request service online to learn more about us or to schedule an HVAC repair or heating maintenance.