Fall Furnace Maintenance Tips: What You Need to Do

Fall is here, which means it’s time for layers, colorful leaves, and pumpkin spice everything. However, in the excitement of autumn, many homeowners forget about fall furnace maintenance. 

Your furnace keeps you and your family warm during the winter. Without routine maintenance, your system is more susceptible to unexpected breakdowns, leaving your home cold and comfortable. 

Having a Niles, IL, HVAC contractor perform a routine furnace tune-up in the fall helps prepare your home for the upcoming cold season while giving you peace of mind knowing that your system is ready to keep your home warm. Although having a professional inspect your heating system is the best way to ensure everything works properly, you can perform your own maintenance to keep your system running efficiently year-round.

This guide reviews everything you need to know about fall furnace maintenance and getting ready for the winter.

A HOMEOWNER’S DIY FURNACE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

With proper maintenance, a furnace can last for 15 years or more. In addition, routine maintenance keeps your furnace operating at maximum efficiency, which means a warmer home and lower energy bills. 

While you need technicians to perform professional tune-ups and repairs, you can take several steps on your own for furnace maintenance. 

Replace the Furnace Filter

One of the most important things you can do for your furnace is also the easiest. A dirty furnace filter prevents the system from operating efficiently, resulting in a cooler home and diminished air quality. Fortunately, replacing air filters is easy and inexpensive. 

Before winter arrives, switch out your furnace filter with a new, clean one. This helps prevent a clogged filter, which can cause your furnace to overheat, struggle to deliver warm air, or other problems you don’t want to deal with in the winter. 

When replacing your filter, write down the date you changed it on the cardboard part (the frame). Doing so will help you keep track of when you need to change it again.

Clean the Vents

Like air filters, dirty air vents can lead to poor furnace performance, reduced indoor air quality, and a less-than-comfortable home. 

If your vents are on the floor, they can collect a lot of dirt, dust, crumbs, and debris. You can clean them by sweeping the area and using a vacuum hose. For an even deeper clean, remove the vent cover and wash it with soap and water. 

Give Your Furnace Room to Breathe

While cleaning your vents, ensure nothing is blocking them and preventing adequate airflow. Furniture, plants, and other objects sitting in front of vents can obstruct the furnace’s airflow, reducing system efficiency and performance. 

Give your furnace room to breathe by keeping the area around the vents clear.

PROBLEMS TO LOOK FOR 

While performing DIY fall furnace maintenance, it’s important to know what problems to look for. While dirty air filters and vents are easy fixes, other issues require professional expertise. 

If you notice any of the following problems, call your local HVAC technician:

• Strange or loud noises coming from the unit
• Soot around the burner
• Short cycling
• Abnormal burner flames

WHAT A PROFESSIONAL TUNE-UP INCLUDES

Although you can perform several routine maintenance steps on your own, having a professional inspect your system is essential for maximum furnace performance. 

Technicians have a greater knowledge of furnace systems, so they know what to look for during an annual maintenance inspection. For example, they inspect the heat exchanger, burner, flue, blower components, and all electrical parts. If they notice issues like dirty burners or a leaking flue, they can provide a fast repair before the problem worsens. 

During a routine inspection, your technician also lubricates the furnace’s moving parks, cleans the unit, and takes pressure readings. By taking the time to perform all these steps, they help extend the life of your heating system while ensuring it is ready for its upcoming heating season.

FIND TECHNICIANS YOU TRUST

At A Custom Services, we know that your furnace is a significant investment, so you want it to last as long as possible. Regular maintenance and professional tune-ups are the best ways to extend the working life of your unit while avoiding expensive problems. 

Properly maintaining your furnace can help avoid issues like a leaking unit, contaminated indoor air, and more. Whether you need tips for new HVAC installation or want to create a fall furnace maintenance checklist, our technicians can help. 



Call our A Custom Services team at (773) 207-7551 to schedule a service in Chicago, IL.