How to prepare your home heating systems for winter

An efficient home heating system in Canada is critical when it comes to keeping your family warm during the winter months. Whether your home has a forced-air furnace, hot water boiler, or electric baseboard heating, it’s important to make sure your equipment is in good working order before the cold weather hits. Here are some steps to prepare, maintain, and protect your home heating systems for winter.

[Photo Credit: Tomasz Zajda]

1. Book an inspection
Before the temperature starts to drop, book a service call with an HVAC specialist to perform a thorough inspection of your heating systems and take care of routine maintenance to ready your home for winter. A professional technician will perform a series of diagnostic procedures and make sure all equipment is cleaned, drained, lubricated, and working correctly without any leaks, cracks, or other potential safety issues. Hiring a professional to conduct seasonal maintenance on your HVAC system will prolong the lifespan of your equipment and help you avoid costly emergency repairs
 
2. Change air filters
Home heating systems have specialized air filters to protect equipment from dust, debris, and other contaminants. These filters should be replaced frequently — typically around three to four times a year — and especially ahead of winter when the system is in heavy use. Old, clogged air filters will cause your heating system to work harder than necessary, resulting in higher energy bills in the winter.

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3. Test your thermostat
Your home’s thermostat is an important climate control device that requires regular maintenance to ensure that it’s communicating properly with your HVAC system. Use an indoor thermometer throughout your house to test temperature readings. If you suspect your thermostat is malfunctioning, call a technician to investigate if there’s an issue with the sensors or faulty wiring. If your thermostat is more than 10 years old, it may be time to upgrade to a more energy-efficient high-tech thermostat.

4. Clear some space
To promote good airflow throughout your home, it’s important to keep the space around your furnace and heating vents clean and free of clutter. Before you turn your heating system on, uncover vents in all rooms and clear out any furniture or boxes that might be near or resting up against your furnace. If you have an electric home heating system with wall-mounted baseboards, be sure these units aren’t blocked by curtains or furnishings, which can reduce heat efficiency and create fire hazards.

5. Bleed radiator lines
If you have a boiler home heating system, it’s a good idea to bleed your hot-water radiators to remove trapped air from the system. To check if radiator valves require bleeding, turn the heating system on and check each of your radiators for cold spots or a gurgling noise, which will indicate air trapped in the lines.

6. Clean vents and ducts
Removing built-up dust, debris, and other particles that collect in ventilation ducts over time will help ensure your heating system is running as efficiently as possible. Homeowners can take care of cleaning grill covers and accessible vents themselves, but a professional service provider should be called in to clean ventilation ducts thoroughly using a high-powered vacuum. A technician can also identify any serious issues such as leaks or mold.