Getting your furnace ready for winter

This guide will help you prepare for and repair any issues before the season starts so that you won’t have to suffer from the cold or deal with unexpected problems later on. One important step to take is to ensure that your furnace is ready for the winter, as this will help to keep you warm and prevent any potential risks to your health.

How do you know that your furnace is not ready for winter?

Noises

If you hear a high-pitched, hissing sound coming from the vents, it may be a sign of inadequate airflow. When the ventilation system requires more air, the pressure and speed of the air can increase, causing noises to be heard in the vents.

Another type of noise that may be heard is a flapping sound coming from the louvers. This may be due to debris or lose parts that need to be addressed.

Squeaking or squealing sounds could indicate a faulty belt, while a scraping sound of metal-on-metal could indicate that a part of the ventilation system has come loose.

Strange odors

If you detect unusual odors such as the smell of gas, oil, burning wires, or moisture in the furnace area, it may be an issue as minor as a dirty air filter or as serious as a gas leak.

The furnace doesn’t heat

If your furnace fails to heat up or doesn’t reach the desired temperature on the thermostat, it may be due to a blown fuse. Alternatively, if it runs non-stop, this could also be an issue.

How do I update my furnace from summer to winter?

With only 5 steps you can prepare to change from summer and get your furnace ready for winter, the first thing to do is to make a general check.

1. Ventilation grilles inside the house

Cold air tends to rise, so ideally you should close the windows on the upper floors and open the vents in the basement and lower floors. This way you can acclimatize the house.

2. Filters

Cleaning or replacing the boiler filters is a constant maintenance task, they accumulate a lot of dust and dirt.

3. Pilot tests

Before winter arrives, check that everything is in order, turn on the furnace and set the thermostat to a temperature so that it starts up and you can check what you have.

4. Debris in the ductwork

When you pilot test your furnace, watch for dust coming out of the flue. This might suggest that you need to have the vents cleaned by a professional HVAC technician.

5. Protect your air conditioner

Before you turn on the furnace, collect all the accessories from the air conditioner and cover or tarp it to prevent dust and make it a nesting place.

6. Clean the burners

During the time of disuse, the furnace accumulates dust and when the burners are lit with dust there can be an unpleasant smell of dusty odor throughout the house.

7. Clean the chimney and vents

Your furnace may be connected to a vent in a side wall or chimney. During the summer, small rodents or pests may live there. Before lighting for the first time and doing the pilot test, make sure the vents are not obstructed. If your furnace is vented through a chimney, you should also check for soot buildup.

8. Safety monitors

Check for smoke, radon, and monoxide detectors. If you don’t have them, get a pair so that no one dies of poisoning in the event of a malfunction.

When should I turn on my furnace for the winter?

The pilot test should be done in late spring so that you don’t get caught in the fall with component price increases, an early winter, or something unforeseen. However, most recommend doing it in the fall.

Equally important is paying special attention to indoor air temperature. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, indoor air during cold weather should be between 68°F and 75°F, so if it ever dips below that range, it’s time to turn on the furnace.

You can also set the thermostat a few degrees lower if you’re going to be away from home or the office for an extended period of time, starting at several hours. This can help you save on your electric bill.

How do I keep my furnace from freezing?

Warm air in the house should protect the furnace from the freezing point. If there is any case of frozen pipes at home, in the kitchen for example, it would be worth using a fan to blow warm air inside the kitchen over the pipes. Getting furnace ready for winter and to prevent freezing you can try these recommendations:

Change filters

Start the new season with new air filters. If the filter is paper, change it every month, this will help the airflow to circulate better.

Inspection

Do a visual check of the furnace and surrounding area to make sure that nothing is in the way or obstructing the airflow. This area should be completely clear.

Cleaning

Remove the front panel of the oven to make sure everything is in order. In this case, we are looking to remove any rodents or pests that live there during the dormant season.

Clean with a vacuum cleaner or soft brush to remove dust.

Air leaks

Inspect ducts for air leaks and seal them with either liquid sealant or foil HVAC tape. When the furnace is closed it makes the system efficient.

Clear the area

Earlier we talked about clearing the area, and removing furniture or other objects in front of the heating registers will help distribute the heat and not concentrate it and overload the system. 

Clear any obstructions in the registers. If you have furniture or other objects in front of the heating registers, it will prevent heat from reaching the living spaces, which can overload the system.

Replace the boiler water panel

The humidifier panel, that specific part of the boiler, ensures optimum humidity to prevent the air in the house from being too dry. Replace the water panel as many times as necessary and adjust the relative humidity between 35 and 45% and reopen the water supply to the boiler.

Remove snow

Whether it’s from the roof or in front of a vent, this prevents snow or ice dams from pushing moisture into the house.

As soon as the season changes and the wet weather changes to a slightly cooler climate, make the necessary changes to get your furnace ready for winter and have a warm home without overloading your furnace.

Written by Vanessa Gallanti. January 5, 2024

Enthusiast about planning, project management, construction materials and technology, and construction. A civil engineer from Los Andes University and a content writer for Kukun.