Ready for Winter? 4 Ways to Ensure Your Heating System Is Ready, Too

Winter may not officially be here yet, but that hasn't stopped the temperatures from dipping. Whether you've already adjusted your thermostat, or you're just about to, it's time to make sure that your heater is ready for use. You already know that problems with your heater can lead to chilly living conditions. However, you might not realize that problems with your heater can also lead to hazardous living conditions.

To make sure your heater is ready to keep you warm this winter, and that you'll be safe while your heater is running, here are four steps you'll need to take right away.

Check the Batteries in Your Smoke Detectors & CO2 Monitors

Now that winter is just around the corner, and you'll be using your heater, it's time to make sure that your smoke detector and CO2 monitors are ready to protect you. Before you start using your heater full-time this winter, check the batteries in all your monitors to make sure they're fresh. If you don't have a CO2 monitor in your home, you should invest in at least one. If you have a multi-story home, you'll need one for each floor. Your smoke detectors and CO2 monitors will give you advance warning when a hazardous condition exists.

Replace the Filter & Clean the Compartment

If it's been a while since you changed your furnace filter, this would be a good time to take care of that. A dirty furnace filter can cause a lot of problems during the winter. In fact, it could lead to problems with air flow through the vents, musty odors in your home, and increased allergy symptoms. You can avoid all that by replacing your filter. If you have a reusable filter, you'll need to wash it and let it air dry. While you're replacing your filter, go ahead and clean the filter compartment too, especially if you can see a thick dirt buildup inside when you take the filter out.

Check the Pilot Light for Color & Strength

Once you've replaced the filter, and checked the batteries in your safety devices, you'll need to head to the furnace. You're going to need to check the pilot light for color and strength. You want your pilot light to be a definite shade of deep blue, and you'll want it to be a strong flame. If the pilot light is weak or flickering, or it's not blue, you'll need to have your furnace inspected before you use it this winter.

Adjust Your Registers

If you closed off some of the registers during the summer, you'll want to open them up again. Closed registers will prevent warm air from getting through to your rooms. When that happens, you'll have a few rooms that aren't quite warm enough.

Don't deal with a chilly house this winter. Use the tips provided here to take care of some preventative maintenance. or contact services like Custom Heating &  Air Conditioning LLC for more help.