Summary
FAQs
Q: How often should you replace your furnace filter in winter?
A: Inspect it monthly and replace standard filters every 30 to 90 days.
Q: What furnace maintenance can you do yourself?
A: Homeowners can replace air filters, unblock registers, test the thermostat, and keep exterior vents clear.
Q: What is included in a professional furnace tune-up?
A: A technician checks safety controls, tests electrical parts, cleans burners and inspects the heat exchanger for leaks.
Fall Furnace Maintenance: A Practical Checklist for Denver Homeowners
The first cold night is a bad time to find out your furnace won’t start. Before you need the heat every day, a few simple checks can help you spot problems and get your home ready for winter.
Here’s what Denver-area homeowners can handle themselves, and when it’s time to schedule a furnace tune-up.
4 Furnace Checks You Can Do Yourself
- Check the air filter. Inspect it monthly during heating season and replace it when dirty, following the filter and furnace manufacturers’ recommendations. Use the correct size and install it with the airflow arrow pointing toward the blower. A dirty filter restricts airflow and can contribute to overheating.
- Try the heat before you need it. Switch your thermostat to heating and set it a few degrees above room temperature. Check that the furnace starts and warm air reaches the vents. Replace thermostat batteries if needed. If the furnace won’t start or repeatedly shuts off, arrange service.
- Give the system room to breathe. Move furniture and rugs away from supply vents and return grilles. Keep the furnace area clear of boxes, laundry, paint and cleaning products, following the equipment’s clearance requirements.
- Look at outdoor vent openings. If your furnace has intake and exhaust pipes through an exterior wall, check for leaves and other obstructions from ground level. Check again after snowstorms. Leave damaged pipes or blockages inside the vent to an HVAC technician.
What should I Leave for a Furnace Technician?
Changing a filter helps with airflow, but it won’t tell you whether a gas furnace is burning fuel or venting exhaust properly. Professional furnace maintenance should follow the manufacturer’s service requirements. Depending on your equipment, that work may include:
- Inspecting the heat exchanger for damage or deterioration.
- Checking and cleaning burners, ignition components and the flame sensor as needed.
- Measuring gas pressure and testing combustion.
- Inspecting exhaust venting and checking condensate drains on high-efficiency furnaces.
- Checking the blower, electrical connections and safety controls.
Leave gas adjustments, internal repairs and safety-switch testing to a qualified technician. Never bypass a safety switch to keep the furnace running.
When should I Schedule My Furnace Service?
Fall is a convenient time for an annual furnace tune-up in Denver, Arvada and surrounding Front Range communities. It gives you time to address worn parts or operating problems before colder weather puts more demand on the system.
If your furnace starts making unusual noises, struggles to warm the house or cycles on and off repeatedly, schedule an inspection. These symptoms can have several causes, and replacing parts without a diagnosis can waste money. Vectra Mechanical provides furnace repair in Denver to help identify and resolve heating problems.
Get Your Furnace Ready for a Colorado Winter
Vectra Mechanical offers furnace maintenance and repair for homeowners in Denver, Arvada, Golden, Westminster, Lakewood, Boulder and nearby communities.
Whether you’re due for seasonal maintenance or concerned about how your furnace is running, contact Vectra Mechanical to schedule furnace service. We’ll help you understand what your system needs before winter settles in.
And now BOOK YOUR MAINTENANCE ONLINE!
