As it cools down outside, you might be eager to start up your furnace for the season. Nothing quite beats the feeling of walking from the outside cold into a cozy household. However, before you turn it on, you should take a few critical steps to ensure your heating installation functions safely and effectively.

How to Prepare Your Heating Installation for the Season

Inspect the Furnace

Check the unit for black soot, combustion residue, and loose connections or gaps, and check the blower belt for cracks and other signs of damage. Also, make sure there are no flammable items like paper or rags near the furnace and no combustible items in the same room. If the pilot light is off, turn it on if you know how or call a heating contractor to assist you. 

Clean the Furnace

Carefully clean the unit with a vacuum and brush attachment, and remove residue from the pilot light port and burners. Replace a disposable air filter or clean a reusable filter, vacuuming out the dust and then washing the filter with soap and water. You should also fill the drain hose with a solution of 25 percent bleach and 75 percent water, flushing it after a few minutes. 

Test Alarms 

To further ensure your safety once the furnace is on, replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Then, check that each alarm works. By taking this precaution, you will ensure that should something go wrong, your family has adequate warning before your safety is at risk.

When to Call a Professional

Even when you follow the above steps, you should hire a qualified heating contractor to inspect your heating installation once a year. The contractor will help make sure the furnace is always in good working order.

If you need help getting your heating installation ready for the chilly weather, contact the specialists at Schenerlein & Sligar in Steubenville, OH. For more than a century, they’ve provided high-quality comfort to residential and commercial clients with their heating and cooling expertise. Along with installing, repairing, and replacing AC and heating systems, they also offer plasma cutting and metal fabrication. Learn more about their services at their website and call (740) 282-5184 to schedule an appointment today.