Once the heat comes on for good in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut, your system will run almost nonstop until spring. A little attention now, before the first real cold snap, saves you from a drafty room in January or a furnace working harder than it needs to.
Start the heat before you need it
Turn the heat on for an hour on a mild fall day. You'll find out whether every room gets warm air, and you'll get the burning-dust smell that comes with the first run out of the way while you can open a window. If a room stays cold or a vent barely blows, that's worth knowing now.
Change the filter
A clogged filter is the most common reason a system struggles in winter. Put in a fresh one before heating season, then check it monthly. If you have pets or someone with allergies, you may need to change it more often.
Clear the vents and returns
Over the summer, furniture, rugs and boxes end up on top of vents. Walk through the house and make sure every supply vent and every return grille is open and unblocked. Closing vents in unused rooms doesn't save much and can make the rest of the system work harder.
Look at the ductwork you can see
If your ducts run through a basement, take a flashlight and look at the joints. Gaps, loose sections or dust streaks around a seam mean heated air is leaking into the basement instead of reaching your rooms. Foil tape made for HVAC work seals small gaps. Cloth duct tape dries out and falls off, so skip it.
Watch for signs the ducts need cleaning
Dust puffing out of the vents when the system starts, registers that turn gray quickly, or a musty smell when the heat runs all point to buildup inside the ducts. Since your system will be moving air all winter, fall is the best time to deal with it.
Want a second set of eyes?
Affordable Duct Cleaning serves homes across Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. If you'd like us to check your ducts before winter settles in, call (413) 359-6570.
