The last thing any homeowner wants is to discover their heating system has given up when they need it most. And that raises an important question: “Is your furnace actually ready for winter?”
Many furnace breakdowns happen not because systems are old, but because they weren’t properly maintained before winter began.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through what your furnace needs for winter, what you can easily check at home, and when it’s time to hire a trusted furnace service expert.
Why Is It Important to Prepare Your Furnace for Winter?
Your furnace is a complex system with burners, sensors, motors, and safety controls. All these must work perfectly together. During winter, your furnace runs for longer in comparison to other seasons like fall or spring. That’s why you need to prepare it before winter arrives. Skipping its maintenance can lead to several issues.
- Higher energy bills
- Uneven heating
- Poor indoor air quality
- Unexpected breakdowns on the coldest night of the year
- Safety risks like carbon monoxide leaks
A pre-winter tune-up helps catch problems early, so you’re not left without heat when you need it the most.
Simple DIY Checks You Can Do At Home
You don’t need a technician’s license to detect basic furnace issues. These quick checks improve efficiency immediately and are the most common culprits for simple issues.
1. Check Your Air Filter
If your furnace has one enemy, it’s dirt, and the filter is the first line of defense. A clogged, dirty filter is the number one cause of furnace inefficiency and breakdown.
The filter is like the lungs of your HVAC system; when they’re choked with dust, pet hair, and debris, your furnace has to work much harder to pull air through.
How to Check
- Pull out your filter and hold it up to a light bulb.
- Can you see light through it? If yes, then it’s good.
- If it’s dark gray and completely opaque, replace it immediately.
Check your filter monthly if you use it often and have pets or a large family. This simple, inexpensive action can save you hundreds in energy bills and unexpected furnace repair costs down the line.
2. Check the Thermostat
- Make sure your thermostat is set to – Heat, and the temperature is also high enough.
- If you use a smart thermostat, check that the batteries are fresh and the Wi-Fi connection is stable. Also check if the programming isn’t accidentally scheduled to a “sleep mode” during the daytime.
3. Clear the Perimeter and Vents
Do you use the area around your furnace as storage? Are vents blocked by furniture or heavy drapes? Your furnace requires proper airflow to operate safely and efficiently.
- Clear away any objects, mainly the flammable materials like paint cans or rags, at least three feet from the unit.
- Also, walk through your house and make sure every single air register (vent) is open and unobstructed. Blocking vents builds pressure in the system and leads to poor performance.
When Should You Call a Professional for Your Furnace Service or Repair?
DIY checks are helpful, but some furnace problems require the help of a furnace expert. These signs aren’t minor; they often point to serious safety or mechanical issues.
1. You Hear Clunks, Bangs, or Squeals
- Loud Scrapping/Clanking – This is a sign of a loose or broken blower wheel or motor component.
- Squealing or Chirping – Usually a simple fix, indicating a belt that needs replacing or bearings that need lubrication. Ignoring this leads to motor failure.
- Rattling – It could be due to loose panels, ducts, or a sign of a more serious internal issue.
These sounds suggest that something isn’t operating correctly, and you need emergency furnace repair.
2. The Burner Flame is Yellow or Orange
This is a major safety issue. For a natural gas furnace, the flame you see through the small window should be clean blue.
A yellow or orange flame suggests incomplete combustion, which means your furnace is producing carbon monoxide. Turn your unit off and call for emergency furnace service immediately.
3. Short Cycling or Constant Running
Is your furnace frequently turning on and off? This puts immense stress on the unit and can indicate an overheating issue. This short cycling puts your system under pressure and is often caused by overheating, dirty filters, or thermostat issues.
But if it runs nonstop and your home still feels cold, it may be inefficient or too small for your space.
4. Cold Spots and Uneven Heating
Have you noticed that even after wearing a sweater, your bedroom feels cold, but at the same time, you’re sweating in your living room? That’s because of uneven heating. It’s a clear sign that your furnace is distributing air poorly, which could be due to duct leaks, a problem with the blower motor, or a system calibration issue.
5. Your Energy Bills Are Suddenly Spiking
If you haven’t changed your thermostat habits but your monthly gas or electric bill jumps 20-30% higher than last year, your furnace is fighting to do its job. It’s burning more fuel just to achieve the same result. Regular maintenance and furnace service by a professional helps stop that waste.
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What Does a Professional Furnace Tune-Up Really Cover?
When you hire a licensed expert for Furnace Service , you’re getting more than a basic cleaning. You’re investing in safety, better efficiency, and peace of mind, which is more important during winter when your furnace works the hardest.
An expert HVAC company follows all the necessary checks to detect hidden issues and fix them right away.
1. Combustion Testing for Safety & Efficiency
One of the most important checks involves a combustion analyzer. The experts use this specialized tool to measure the gases coming out of your furnace.
- It helps check whether carbon monoxide levels are safe.
- The test confirms your furnace is burning fuel efficiently without wasting energy.
- The HVAC expert then adjusts gas pressure and temperature for peak performance.
2. Heat Exchanger Inspection
The heat exchanger is the most important component of your furnace. It keeps harmful combustion fumes separate from the air you breathe. Over time, it can crack due to constant heating and cooling.
A professional inspection looks for damage that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks into your home, something you can’t safely check on your own. Catching this early protects your family and your home.
3. Other Important Checks That Prevent Breakdowns
- Cleaning the flame sensor to avoid startup issues.
- Inspecting and lubricating moving parts like the blower motor.
- Checking electrical connections for wear or corrosion.
- Testing all safety shut-off controls.
Small issues, like a dirty sensor or low gas pressure, can be fixed quickly and affordably. Ignoring them often leads to costly emergency repairs in the middle of winter. A professional tune-up helps in fixing them early so they never become big ones.
Answering Your Questions About Furnace Maintenance for Winter
1. Should you have your furnace serviced before winter?
Absolutely, yes. The best time is in the late summer or early fall (September/October) before the heavy heating season begins. Waiting until December or January means technicians are busy with emergency repairs, and you might have to wait longer.
Furthermore, many manufacturers require documented annual professional maintenance to keep your unit’s warranty valid. If you need a big repair and skipped your annual tune-up, your warranty may be voided.
2. How do I know if my furnace needs professional maintenance?
If you notice any of the signs we mentioned above – unusual noises, a yellow flame, short cycling, cold spots, or a sudden spike in energy bills, your furnace needs help.
Even if you notice none of these signs, any furnace that hasn’t been serviced in the last 12 months should be scheduled for preventative furnace service.
3. What is the first thing you check when maintaining a furnace?
While the filter is important, the first and most important priority for any technician is safety.
Our professionals always check and test all safety devices, perform a visual inspection of the venting system (flue), and conduct a combustion analysis to confirm there are no dangerous CO leaks and that the furnace is igniting and exhausting properly.
4. How often should I change my air filter?
This depends completely on the filter type and your home environment.
- For Standard 1-inch filters, change every 30-90 days.
- If you have thick 4-inch or 5-inch filters, change them every 6-12 months.
- If you have pets or allergies, check and likely change 1-inch filters closer to the 30-day mark.
Takeaway
Your furnace doesn’t usually fail without warning. It gives signs long before it stops working. Paying attention to those signs, handling a few simple checks at home, and scheduling professional maintenance on time can make all the difference and prepare your furnace for Reno’s harsh winter.
A well-maintained furnace runs more safely, heats more evenly, uses less energy, and stays consistent even when the temperatures drop. Always hire an experienced and trusted HVAC company to avoid unexpected breakdowns, safety risks, and costly emergency repairs.
Read More About:
- What Size Furnace Should You Have in Your Home?
- What Are the Key Benefits of Furnace Maintenance for Your Home?
- Why Is My Heater Blowing Cold Air? Causes and Solutions
- 10 Warning Signs Your Water Heater Is About to Fail
Stay Warm This Winter – Schedule Your Furnace Service With Ross Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
Looking for a trusted HVAC contractor in Reno? You’re at the right place!
Ross Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. is here to help before winter puts your furnace to the test. Whether you need routine furnace service in Reno or emergency furnace repair in Reno, our certified team is ready to keep your home safe, warm, and comfortable all season long.
We focus on preventing breakdowns, improving efficiency, and making sure your heating system runs the way it should, without any surprises. Call us at (775) 452-4387 for expert furnace solutions!
