A Checklist for Giving Your Michigan Home the Heat It Needs This Winter

Livonia, MI routinely experiences freezing temperatures during the winter. This can lead to furnace issues like heater failure, short cycling, and inefficient operation. Preparing your heating system for winter can help you avoid many of these issues and stay warm all season long. With the right Michigan furnace maintenance, you can enjoy maximum wintertime energy savings and peace of mind.

Step 1: Replace or Clean Air Filters

The first thing on your winter HVAC checklist should be replacing or cleaning your system’s air filter. Most heaters use a disposable filter to trap airborne debris. This is necessary to prevent this debris from entering the inside of your furnace, and it works to boost your indoor air quality.

Eco-friendly washable filters requiring routine cleaning are also available. To ensure optimal airflow, you will need to keep up with air filter changes or cleanings throughout the winter. If a dirty filter restricts or blocks airflow, it can greatly reduce the lifespan of your heating system.

Step 2: Inspect and Test the Thermostat

Prep your thermostat at the beginning of winter to maximize your energy savings. If you haven’t already upgraded to a smart thermostat, we highly recommend doing so now. Our Livonia HVAC company will be happy to install a new thermostat for you.

A smart device will allow you to enjoy many features that can lower your heating bills while enhancing your indoor comfort. For example, geofencing technology will turn the temperature down when your smartphone leaves your home and turn it back up just before you return. This reduces system runtime and can extend the lifespan of your heater.

Step 3: Clear the Area Around the Furnace and Vents

For your furnace to function optimally throughout winter, your ductwork needs to be accommodating. Closed or obstructed air vents will reduce airflow, which can affect the static pressure in your ducting and reduce system efficiency.

We highly recommend inspecting all your supply and return vents at the beginning of the season. Ensure each vent is fully open and that nothing is within three feet of it that could obstruct airflow in or out of the vent. Additionally, check the space around your furnace for any loose debris that could pose a fire hazard. Your furnace should be surrounded by multiple feet of open space for optimal home safety.

Step 4: Schedule a Professional Heating Tune-Up

One often overlooked but critically essential part of your winter HVAC checklist is a professional heater tune-up. This is where our experienced local professionals will service your entire unit to prep it for the upcoming winter. During a professional heating tune-up, our technician will tighten connections, lubricate moving parts, perform routine testing, and complete safety inspections to ensure your furnace will perform at its safest and most efficient all season long.

Professional maintenance is also a must to maintain the warranty coverage on your furnace for another year. It’s great for catching issues like worn-out components. And it goes a long way to minimize your risk of a major furnace malfunction during the upcoming winter.

Step 5: Check for Carbon Monoxide and Drafts

Ensuring optimal safety throughout the winter starts with ensuring you have appropriate detectors. We suggest having both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home and outside every bedroom. Replace the batteries in each unit with fresh ones, and test it to ensure it’s working properly.

Additionally, now is the perfect time to locate any air drafts in your home and seal them off. These tend to develop around door and window frames. You can use weather stripping, caulking, or spray foam to seal off these drafts. The less outside air that can access your home, the less your heater has to run to keep your home safe and comfortable.

Step 6: Prepare for Emergencies

When extreme cold snaps hit, they can cause chaos. You can prepare for unfortunate wintertime events by keeping a stash of heavy blankets and clothing readily accessible. Consider investing in a generator to power your heating system in case the power grid temporarily fails.

Expert Heater Maintenance Service

Ehlers Heating & Cooling offers expert heater maintenance service for the Plymouth, MI area to ensure your heater will keep you warm all winter. We can also help with all your heater repair, new installation and replacement needs.

Call us today to schedule your next winter tune-up service or sign up for our annual maintenance plan.