Don't Wait for the First Cold Night to Find Out Your Furnace Isn't Happy
We're still firmly in summer mode. The patio furniture is out, the gardens are doing their thing, and I'm certainly not suggesting anyone start talking about snow yet.
But late August is actually a very smart time to give your heating system a little attention.
Why?
Because the first chilly night of fall is exactly when thousands of other homeowners discover their furnace has also apparently decided it would like the season off.
A few simple checks now can help you head into fall knowing your home's heating system is ready when you finally reach for that thermostat.
Start With the Easiest Job: Check Your Furnace Filter
Pull your furnace filter out and take a look.
If it's visibly dirty, dusty or clogged, it's probably time to replace or clean it according to your furnace manufacturer's instructions.
A dirty filter restricts airflow, which means your heating and cooling system has to work harder to move air through your home.
Natural Resources Canada recommends regularly inspecting, cleaning or changing HVAC filters and notes that dirty filters can increase energy costs and potentially damage the system.
Homeowner hack: Before throwing the old filter away, take a photo of the size printed on the edge.
Future-you standing in the Canadian Tire aisle staring at approximately 47 filters that all look identical will be very grateful.
Give Your Vents Some Breathing Room
We've all done it.
A sofa gets moved.
A basket gets tucked into a corner.
Someone decides the floor register is apparently the perfect location for a dog bed.
Walk through your home and make sure both your supply vents and return-air grilles are clear.
Your HVAC system needs to move air freely throughout the house to work properly.
While you're there, give dusty grilles and registers a quick vacuum.
Five minutes. Done.
Check the Area Around Your Furnace
Your furnace room should not slowly become the household storage unit.
Keep the area around heating equipment clear, particularly of combustible materials.
If you've spent the summer piling boxes, paint cans, cleaning products or miscellaneous "I'll deal with that later" items nearby, now is a good time to relocate them.
And yes, I realize "I'll deal with that later" is practically an official homeownership storage category.
Check Your Thermostat
Switch your thermostat to heating mode briefly and raise the temperature enough to call for heat.
Listen.
Does the system start normally?
Does warm air eventually come through the vents?
Does anything soundāor smellāunusual?
A little dusty smell the first time the furnace runs after sitting unused can happen, but persistent burning smells, unusual noises or a system that won't start deserve professional attention.
Then turn the thermostat back down. We're not heating the house in August just for fun.
Look at Your Outside Vents
If your furnace has exterior intake or exhaust pipes, make sure they're unobstructed.
Leaves, vegetation, nests and other debris can accumulate around them.
Add this spot to your winter mental checklist too: once snow arrives, these vents need to remain clear.
Consider Booking Your Heating-System Service Now
Natural Resources Canada recommends having a licensed and insured HVAC contractor perform pre-season checkups and specifically suggests planning heating-system maintenance as fall approaches.
Depending on your equipment, manufacturer and maintenance schedule, late summer can be an excellent time to book before HVAC companies hit their first-cold-snap rush.
A qualified technician can inspect components homeowners shouldn't be attempting to service themselves.
While You're at It: Test Your Alarms
Heating season also means it's a good time to think about carbon monoxide safety.
Health Canada recommends maintaining fuel-burning appliances properly and having working certified carbon monoxide alarms adjacent to sleeping areas. Smoke alarms should also be tested regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Pressing the test button takes seconds.
Ignoring the alarm because "I'm pretty sure it's fine" isn't a maintenance strategy.
Charlotte's Tip š”
Home maintenance is much easier when we do things before they become emergencies.
I'd much rather discover in August that the furnace needs attention than discover it at 11:30 p.m. on the first freezing night of October while wearing three sweaters and trying to convince the dog that cuddling is now mandatory.
So here's this week's Homeowner Hack:
Check the filter. Clear the vents. Test the thermostat. Check your alarms.
You can probably do the homeowner portion in less than 20 minutes.
Then go back outside.
Summer isn't over yet. āļøš”
Your Late-Summer HVAC Checklist
Check or replace the furnace/HVAC filter
Vacuum return-air grilles and registers
Move furniture and belongings away from vents
Clear clutter away from heating equipment
Briefly test the thermostat and heating system
Inspect exterior intake and exhaust vents
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Book professional heating-system maintenance if due
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