As temperatures rise, it’s nearly time for homeowners to switch their furnace off for the season and enjoy the cool summer AC instead. However, if you want your furnace to be in great shape this fall, there’s a little more to it than just flipping your thermostat settings from heat to cool. Here are a few simple HVAC service items to check off your furnace’s list.

3 Tips to Prepare Your Furnace for Summer

1. Keep the Area Clear

Once you shut your furnace down, take some time to clean around the outside and remove any debris or loose belongings piled up next to it. Furnaces need sufficient airflow to operate, and it can be easy to forget about the spare boxes of holiday decorations or offseason clothes stacked around it when fall rolls back around. Avoid problems early on by clearing the area, dusting around the unit, and storing your belongings elsewhere.

2. Change the Filter

Most furnaces and air conditioners use the same ventilation systems to deliver warm and cool air throughout your home, so dust and debris that has built up throughout the winter can also impact your comfort during spring and summer. A new season is a perfect reminder to check your filter and clean or replace it if needed. However, you should continue to check it every few months throughout the rest of the year as well.

3. Schedule an Inspection

The end of winter is an ideal time to have a professional HVAC contractor look things over. They can make sure everything is running properly and give you plenty of time to save up for repairs if there are any issues.

Additionally, they can help you shut down the gas or pilot light if your furnace uses those features while making sure there aren’t any harmful gas leaks that could build up while your furnace isn’t running.

If you need to schedule HVAC service this season, contact Living Comfort HVAC. Serving customers from Dayton to Cincinnati, OH, the heating and air conditioning company has more than 35 years of industry experience with everything from furnace repair to boiler installation. The licensed, bonded, and insured team has the tools, knowledge, and experience necessary to complete jobs correctly the first time, so you can feel confident in the quality and longevity of your system’s performance. Visit the company’s website to see a full list of services. To request an estimate, call (513) 833-3876.