3 "Cs" For Getting Your Gas Furnace Ready Before Winter Arrives

As winter approaches, you may have started thinking about making preparations for getting ready for the cold months ahead. While making these plans, you may wonder what you can do to ensure your gas furnace is ready to go. If so, use the following three "Cs" for getting your furnace ready before winter arrives.

Clean the Area Around It

Whether your gas furnace is in the basement or a closet, you may also use the area as storage when you are not using the heater. If so, the first thing you should do when getting your furnace ready is to clean the area around it.

Not only does clearing out the space around the furnace give you easier access, but it makes running the furnace safer. If you have clothes or boxes next to the unit, these items could fall on the furnace while it is hot and possibly cause a fire. It also allows for proper ventilation to keep the furnace running efficiently.

Change the Filter

After you have cleaned out the area, the next thing you should do is change the filter. Even if the filter appears clean or was changed late last season, you should still change it.

Even when the furnace is not in use, dust, and moisture settle in the unused filter. Using a filter from last season would not only spread dust and dirt throughout your home, but mold could have grown during the hot, humid summer months. You do not want to spread mold spores in your air that could adversely affect your family's health.

Check the Pilot

Once you have changed the filter, the next thing you need to do is check the pilot to make sure it lights properly. Before you light it, however, check to make sure there is no dust, dirt, or rust blocking the hole. If there is something blocking it, wipe the area clean with a dry, lint-free rag.

Light the pilot according to your furnace manufacturer's instructions. If the flame is any other color than blue, you may have a problem with the gas line and should have it checked out by a professional before running your furnace.

Using the above "Cs" to prepare your gas furnace before winter sets in can help ensure it is ready to heat your home. However, if you find any problems, you may want to contact an HVAC repair service, like Cape Fear Air Conditioning & Heating Co., Inc., to have them send someone to inspect your furnace and offer suggestions on what should be done to make sure it runs properly once the cold weather rolls in.