6 Tips to Get Your Heater Ready for Winter

As you know, the winter season can get pretty brutal in PA, NJ, and DE. From below-zero temperatures to feet of snow, it’s important to have a heater that works properly all season long. Here, our heating maintenance company shares some tips for preparing your heater so it can keep you warm when you need it most:

Replace your HVAC filter.

As a general rule, you should replace your HVAC filter every season. During the fall, your filter collects dust, dirt, allergens, dander, and more; by the end of the season, it becomes congested and  can’t filter your air as well as it should. To breathe the cleanest air, check to see what kind of filter your unit needs and pick one up at your local hardware or home improvement store.

Prepare your vents/registers.

At our heater maintenance company, we suggest dusting the vents or registers throughout your home before you use your heater. This will clear away any extra build-up that may end up in your air. In addition, check to make sure that nothing is obstructing the airflow from your vents and make sure your vents are opened all the way.

Remove nearby objects.

Before you turn on your heater, remove any objects that are near your unit or on top of it. This includes things like boxes, furniture, storage containers, and more. Having objects nearby increases the risk of a fire, so keep yourself and your family safe.

Cover up your condenser.

If you have a traditional HVAC unit, buy a cover for your air conditioning condenser (the unit outside). By covering it up for the winter, you can prevent ice from collecting inside and prevent damage due to hail, tree branches, debris, and more. Heat pumps are different, so if your HVAC unit is a heat pump, don’t cover it.

Turn up the thermostat.

Before you use your heater on a regular basis, turn it on and test it to make sure it works properly. Turn your thermostat to “heat” and wait about a minute. You should hear the unit click on and your circulated air should become warm. Let the heat run for a few minutes to make sure your unit is ready to go. If for some reason your heat doesn’t come on, contact our heating maintenance company.

Make a heating maintenance appointment.

It’s a good idea to schedule a heating maintenance appointment every fall with a professional HVAC company. At Oliver, we can inspect your heater to make sure it’s ready to take on the cold that the Northeast brings. We’ll clean your heat exchanger, check your exhaust flue, lubricate and clean your blower motor, check for cracks or damage, and more. If we find anything wrong, we’ll fix it quickly.