Your waistline isn’t the only thing that should prepare for the holidays.
Halloween candy. Thanksgiving dinner. Holiday baked goods! All of these extra calories can put an extra strain on your waistline – just as increased heating demand can put a strain on your gas furnace. While tight jeans can be a comfort nuisance, that’s nothing compared to a gas furnace outage during some of the coldest weather of the year.
So, like hitting the gym, your gas furnace needs a plan of action to make sure that damage isn’t done while temperatures drop. Here are some things you can do to decrease the strain placed on your indoor heating system.
- Schedule a clean and check appointment. Start the holiday season out on the right foot with a clean and check appointment! This can make sure your contractor catches anything that could pose a problem during the heating season.
- Change your filter. Ensure proper airflow and reduce strain by making sure your filter is clean and ready to go.
- Get your ductwork inspected. Again, this can make sure that you have correct airflow going to all parts of your house. And, you can make sure that there are no leaks – causing your gas furnace to have to run longer or shorter (depending on the location of the leak).
- Having a holiday party? Turn the thermostat down a few degrees. The natural body heat and any indoor cooking appliance can give off extra heat and lower the demand for your gas furnace.
- While we’re talking about the thermostat… make sure that it is sending the right signals to your equipment. Your thermostat should be a part of your maintenance appointment.
- What about vents? Make sure all of your vents are open. This way you assure that your gas furnace is meeting the demand it was designed to meet.