Prepping your heating system for the winter

As we move along Alabama’s beautiful mid-autumn months, we can be lulled into feeling that the weather is only becoming more cooperative as time goes on. With the sun softening, the humidity lifting, and dusk still mild, on the horizon awaits the brutally cold months of winter. 

While our heating systems remind us of the marvels of modern amenities, the lack of such reminds us even better–but for the worse. 

And yet, to enjoy the wonder that is your home’s heating system, you must take care of it. Heating systems across Birmingham have been dormant for months, enduring changes in temperature and bouts of heavy storms. Anything idling for that long requires a tune-up! 

You can rest well knowing that we here at Guin have been servicing heating systems for longer than might be reasonably expected. Today, we’re going to walk you through steps that will ensure your heating system is prepared for winter. 

Test your heating system and thermostat

Step one: make sure it’s working. 

This is the easiest and most sensible start to prepping your heating system for the winter. All you have to do is press the button or flip the switch, and make sure the system is still functioning properly on a basic level. You should hear your heater–whether it’s a furnace or boiler–kickstart shortly after turning it on. Make sure the thermostat is reflecting the actual air temperature. 

Regardless of how the test goes, make sure to change the battery to the thermostat. The last thing you want is for your system to get bent out of sorts in the middle of a bitter January night. 

Clear the space around your furnace

This is an incredibly important step for not only giving room your furnace to function properly, but also for safety. Objects near the furnace may ‘steal’ heat by conducting it, but of far greater concern is the potential for anything flammable to loiter near the furnace. Even systems dependent upon boiler heaters can increase the potential for fires. 

Throw out and replace old air filters

Our heating systems require fresh filters for proper functioning. Should you forgo changing your filters, you might very well end up spending far more money than is necessary, forcing your heating system to push the warmer air through your clogged screens. 

Most importantly, clogged filters are yet another fire hazard, so don’t skip this step! And be sure to check out our blog on types of filters to help get you started.

Seal and caulk any cracks and thin openings around the house

It’s of the utmost importance that we seal off inflows of cold air. Should you fail to do so, you will waste more energy than you can possibly imagine trying to keep up with the cold air that seeps in through the cracks with devious efficiency. 

Use caulk and other sealant products for damaged cracks, and weather stripping for small openings along windows or at the bottoms and tops of walls and doors. 

Get GuinGuard to have your heating system inspected on a regular basis

This is by far the most important step of them all. Even if you’ve personally gone through each of the previous steps, it’s imperative that you hire a professional to ensure that you don’t find yourself in the dead of winter with a suddenly broken furnace or boiler. 

Better yet, with GuinGaurd–our routine maintenance and inspection package–you can rest assured that your heating system will be prepared for the frigid months ahead. It’s far better to spend a little bit of money and be safe than be sorry because you have to spend a lot of money to avoid a frosty night in your own home. 

Call Guin Service for late summer AC maintenance

No matter what HVAC issues you’re facing, know that the professionals at Guin Service have seen it all. Best yet, with our newly issued GuinGuard program, we can make regularly scheduled visits for heating system repair and maintenance, including priority service, payment plans, free replacement parts free of charge, and much, much more. You can also contact us for emergency repairs by visiting our site or calling the number below.

Contact Guin Service, LLC, serving Birmingham, Hoover, and Mountain Brook, AL, for Heating Repair or Replacement as well as home installation. We’ve been in business for 60 years because we do what’s right for our customers. You can always trust us to be honest and have your best interest in mind. Just give us a call today at 205.407.1737.