After your furnace gets worked consistently throughout the winter, it’s smart to prepare it for a long stretch of dormancy. Taking a few steps to prepare your home heating system for a period of rest can help extend its lifespan and ensure that it will work well again when the cool weather rolls back around. Here are a few simple steps you can follow for offseason furnace maintenance. 

How to Prepare Your Home Heating System for the Summer

1. Turn Off the Pilot Light

If you have an older furnace with a traditional pilot light, leaving it lit all summer can use up fuel unnecessarily. Plus, it generates extra heat, which your cooling system will have to work to offset. Consult the owner’s manual for your heating system to turn off your pilot light safely.

2. Clean Accessible Areas

Once your pilot light is off, remove the dust and debris your home heating system has accumulated over the winter months. This buildup can make its way into your furnace, potentially causing its components to run poorly. Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to eradicate any buildup from areas you can easily access.

3. Change the Filter

The role of your furnace’s filter is to catch dust, dander, and other debris, so they don’t enter your furnace and cause clogs and other malfunctions. Yet, the filter can only hold so much, and should therefore be replaced every three months at a minimum. Replace it now, and if you have pets or anyone with asthma or allergies in your home, consider monthly replacements while the furnace is in use.

4. Refill Your Fuel Tank

If your home heating system runs on oil, consider topping off your oil tank now. Fuel prices are generally lower in the summer when there is less demand. If you don’t want to fill up right now, you can still take advantage of year-round offerings like budget plans and fixed prices available from some oil companies. 

5. Schedule a Professional Inspection

Now is a smart time to schedule a professional inspection for your home heating system. An experienced technician can spot issues that could cause bigger problems down the road. By having any necessary or preventive maintenance work completed now, you can rest assured that your furnace will be in excellent shape when you need it again.

 

Whether you need a home oil delivery or you’re seeking professional service for your home heating system, turn to Andersen Oil Company. This trusted company has been serving Southeast Connecticut for decades and offers routine maintenance on oil furnaces as well as budget plans and price locks to ensure affordable oil deliveries when you need them. Find out more about their service plans online or call (860) 464-7628 to schedule an appointment.