How to prepare your furnace for winter
Now’s a great time to get your home heating system in tip-top shape before the snow flies, especially since forecasters are calling for early and severe winter weather for much of the country.
What should be checked?
All of your furnace’s controls and the thermostat should be checked to ensure they’re working properly, and the combustion systems should also be checked and cleaned where necessary to ensure everything’s running smoothly and that potentially harmful combustion products from the furnace are being adequately vented from your home.
“Improperly operating controls can lead to unnecessary energy use and can pose a potential safety hazard,” notes Warren Heeley, President of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI).
When my husband and I bought our home, we had a technician come out to service the boiler system before we moved in as part of our winter maintenance plan. He found that the past-its-prime system was leaking carbon monoxide and recommended replacing the unit, potentially saving our lives and our property.
What can I do myself?
Generally speaking, homeowners are discouraged from doing any type of maintenance on their home’s heating system, aside from changing the air filters and keeping the area around their furnace clean and tidy. Without the right know-how, you could be putting yourself at risk for fire or ventilation problems.
“Just changing the furnace filter and resetting the thermostat for the heating season is not enough to ensure the furnace will operate throughout winter,” says Heeley. “Services are best provided by a professional HVAC contractor.”
How do I find a licensed service technician?
Licensing standards will vary from province to province; however, any reputable contractor should be more than happy to show proof of certification if you ask for it.
“The easiest way to determine if a contractor is qualified to do the work in your home is to ask if they are a member of HRAI,” says Heeley, as contractors must hold the proper certifications in order to be members.
How much will it cost?
Depending on your furnace type and size, and the level of service necessary, annual maintenance fees can vary from about $100 to thousands of dollars. If any replacement parts are needed or unforeseen problems arise, that can also raise the cost of a visit, Heeley notes.
“A straight-forward equipment inspection with no unusual problems will typically run about $100,” he says, but costs will vary by location.
Find a certified, licensed professional today using the HRAI’s contractor locator.
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