Winter here does not ease in. A fall checklist for your furnace: change the filter, test it early, clear the vents, check CO detectors and book a tune-up.
In Northeast Pennsylvania, winter doesn’t ease in. One week it’s fall, the next you’re scraping the windshield and the furnace is running around the clock. The time to make sure your heating system is ready is before that first hard cold snap, not during it. Here’s a simple checklist to get your furnace ready for a NEPA winter.
Change the Filter
Start with the easiest and most important step. A clean filter improves airflow, keeps the system running efficiently, and helps your indoor air quality when the house is sealed up all winter. Check it monthly during heavy-use months and replace it when it’s dirty.
Test It Before You Need It
Turn your heat on for a test run on a cool day, well before you actually depend on it. Let it run through a full cycle. Listen for unusual noises, watch for weak airflow, and notice any odd smells beyond the brief dust burn-off when it first fires up. Finding a problem in October is a lot better than discovering it at midnight in January.
Clear the Area and the Vents
Make sure nothing is stored against or on top of the furnace, and that all your supply and return vents are open and unblocked by furniture or rugs. The system needs to breathe. Blocked vents make it work harder and heat your home unevenly.
Check Your Thermostat and Detectors
If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, set your winter schedule now. And test your carbon monoxide detectors, replacing batteries as needed. CO is a real risk with any combustion heating system, and working detectors are non-negotiable in the winter.
What Should I Set the Thermostat To If I Go Away?
Not as low as you might think. Dropping the heat to save money while you travel is how pipes in exterior walls and unheated basements end up freezing, and a burst line costs far more than the fuel you saved. Fifty-five degrees is the usual floor, and it is the number worth holding to. If the house will be empty during a real cold snap, ask someone to look in on it, or shut the water off at the main and drain the lines. There is more on that in our guide to preventing frozen pipes.
Book Your Tune-Up
The single best thing you can do is book a professional tune-up before the season. We clean the burners, inspect the heat exchanger, test safety controls, and catch small problems early. Schedule in early fall to beat the rush. If you would rather not think about it twice a year, our maintenance program covers both the heating and cooling visits, and it is worth knowing what a tune-up actually includes before you book one. We’ve kept Wyoming Valley families warm since 1921. Call (570) 822-8158.