Don’t wait until the first cold snap in Portland hits to make sure your furnace or heating system is ready for winter. Regular maintenance along with periodic checkups by a licensed heating professional are essential for continued safe and efficient operation of your furnace.

Check Your Air Filter.
Checking the air filter for your unit is a simple fix. During the winter, the air filter will often become dirty. A clogged filter restricts the flow of heated air from your furnace, causing it to work harder and deliver less heat. It’s also a good idea to have a reserve of air filters as well.

Make sure that vents in the house are unobstructed.
Your furnace works less when heated air is not blocked and the cooler air can circulate back freely. Air in your home needs to circulate easily through the vents.

Schedule a Seasonal Preventative Maintenance.
It’s always a great idea to have a regular schedule for your heating system to receive preventative maintenance or a furnace tune-up. This type of service will ensure that your system is working properly, reduce repair costs, extend the life of your unit and keep you warm in the winter.

Make sure your thermostat is working properly.
Turn on your thermostat and monitor how it responds, it should start up immediately without any problems. If you have an old thermostat that must be controlled manually you should consider updating it. Programmable thermostats (also called Set-back) are the best choice because they allow you to completely control the temperature in your home. A programmable thermostat can be automatically turned down when you’re asleep or away, which can save you a lot of money.

Let Efficiency Heating and Cooling help you prepare your furnace for winter to keep you and your family comfortable when the cold weather arrives!