The icy winds are whipping up again in Buffalo, signaling another ruthless Western New York winter on the horizon. As any seasoned local knows, when those temperatures start plunging, having a furnace you can rely on is an absolute necessity – not a luxury. Your heating system is quite literally a lifeline to prevent you from turning into a human popsicle during the most brutal stretches from December through March.
But here’s the thing folks often overlook – furnaces require some preventative maintenance to keep chugging along when you need them most. You can’t just flip the switch and expect it to work flawlessly without any tune-ups or inspections. Getting ahead of potential issues before the deep freeze sets in is crucial.
Taking the time for a furnace servicing in the fall months pays dividends. It allows any small problems to be nipped in the bud, so you can avoid a catastrophic mid-blizzard breakdown leaving your family in the cold. Plus, routine cleanings and adjustments optimize energy efficiency.
Don’t gamble with Old Man Winter – get that furnace prepped early for maximum coziness all season long.
Why Furnace Maintenance Is a Must for Buffalo Winters
Once those bitter cold temps and heavy lake effect snows arrive, you’ll be grateful you made furnace prep a priority. Getting it serviced is absolutely essential for making it through our harsh heating season unscathed.
Prolonging Furnace Lifespan
Like any big investment, furnaces require some periodic upkeep to maximize their usable lifetime. Skipping maintenance means little issues have no chance to get addressed and will inevitably snowball into bigger, costlier problems down the road.
With the constant workload furnaces endure during Buffalo’s brutal winters, that premature wear-and-tear really takes a toll. Consistent tune-ups are key for extending that lifespan as long as possible until such a time that replacements become unavoidable.
Improving Energy Efficiency
Well-kept furnaces simply run more efficiently overall compared to neglected ones. That unlocks serious savings on those sky-high utility bills as you’re constantly cranking the heat each month.
On the flip side, a furnace choked with built-up grime and dust has to work much harder to pump out that warm air, driving up energy consumption and costs in the process. Those wasteful heating bills add up quickly.
Preventing Mid-Winter Breakdowns
There’s no bigger headache than your furnace conking out during a January deep freeze. Cue shivering under blankets for days while you wait for a repair technician! An ounce of prevention with a tune-up can go a long way in avoiding such nightmares.
Experts can spot and fix small issues in the fall before they escalate into complete breakdowns when you need that furnace most.
Ensuring Safe Operation
Beyond just keeping things humming efficiently, maintenance also keeps safety front-and-center. Technicians inspect for hazards like obstructed exhaust vents that could pump carbon monoxide back inside. They’ll check for fire risks from excessive dust buildup near the burners too.
With winter storms frequently causing power outages, you can rest easier knowing your furnace received a comprehensive safety once-over beforehand.
Steps to Prep Your Furnace for Winter
As those first hints of winter start creeping in, it’s crucial to get your furnace prepped and ready to work hard all season long.
Here are the key steps to check off:
Schedule a Professional Furnace Inspection
Don’t try to inspect that furnace yourself – call in a certified HVAC professional who knows exactly what they’re doing. These experts will conduct a detailed examination, checking for any cracked heat exchangers, testing blower motor operation, verifying electrical connections are secure, ensuring the thermostat reads accurately, and more.
With furnaces under constant strain during our brutal Buffalo winters, these comprehensive inspections from seasoned pros are an absolute must for catching minor issues before they escalate.
Replace or Clean Air Filters
This simple step is often overlooked but it makes a major difference. Clogged, dirty air filters make your furnace work harder to circulate air properly. This reduces efficiency while driving up energy costs.
Aim to swap them out every couple months at minimum, or even more frequently if you’re running that furnace 24/7 when temps really plunge.
Test Thermostat Function
Your thermostat controls that entire heating system, so it needs to operate accurately. Over time, thermostats can become uncalibrated, causing your furnace to run more than required as it tries to match an incorrect temperature reading.
Do a quick test against a separate thermometer. If it’s off by several degrees, you may need to recalibrate or just replace an older unit.
Inspect and Clean Air Ducts/Vents
Obstructed air vents and ducts restrict proper airflow, hindering your furnace’s performance. Take time to thoroughly clear out any built-up dust, pet hair, dirt or debris clogging up those airways. Hit any accessible ductwork with the vacuum hose too for optimal airflow and indoor air quality.
Clear Area Around Furnace
Over months of inactivity, dust and combustible items can accumulate around your furnace’s immediate area. Do a sweep to remove any potential fire hazards like boxes, cobwebs, etc. Leaving the workspace clean helps the furnace operate safely.
Lubricate Moving Components
Many furnace parts like blower motors have moving components that require periodic lubrication to function smoothly. Refer to your owner’s manual for specific manufacturer lubrication points and procedures. Taking this simple step reduces friction and wear-and-tear.
Seal Ductwork Air Leaks
While inspecting ducts, keep an eye out for any obvious air leaks from holes, disconnected joints, or crushed sections. Heated air escaping means wasted energy and higher utility costs. Use foil tape or sealant to maximize efficiency.
With these simple maintenance tasks checked off well before winter’s arrival, you can feel confident your furnace will be prepared to keep pumping out that wonderful heat all season long, no matter how bitterly cold it gets outside. A little prep work prevents any rude (and freezing) surprises.
DIY Furnace Prep vs. Professional Maintenance
As self-reliant Buffalonians, we’re no strangers to taking things into our own hands. But when it comes to your home’s furnace, there’s a limit to how much maintenance you should try tackling versus leaving it to the trained experts. Here’s where to draw that line:
Tasks You Can Do Yourself
Let’s face it, some basic furnace upkeep is well within the average homeowner’s abilities. Swapping out clogged air filters, testing if your thermostat is accurately reading room temperatures, and doing a general cleaning around the furnace’s immediate area? Those are fair game for any reasonably handy person. Just a little elbow grease required.
When to Call in a Professional
But plenty of other furnace components and inspections are best left to certified HVAC technicians who know their stuff inside and out. You don’t want to risk cracking open the heat exchanger, attempting to disassemble and deep clean those burner assemblies, or fiddling with any of the complex electrical connections and safety controls.
These veteran pros have the specialized training, tools and experience to properly assess every critical component and identify potential hazards. With furnaces under extreme strain during our brutal Buffalo winters, these comprehensive professional safety checks from seasoned experts are absolutely essential.
Benefits of a Maintenance Plan
Of course, the easiest solution is signing up for an annual furnace tune-up plan from a reputable local HVAC company. Many offer pre-scheduled maintenance visits each fall where their technicians will thoroughly inspect, clean, lubricate and test every single aspect of your system according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
This preventative approach maximizes efficiency, safety and extends your furnace’s lifespan. You’ll often get priority service and discounted rates if any repairs are needed too. It’s simply the most hassle-free way to ensure your furnace is ready for winter without lifting a finger.
Your furnace is the lifeline keeping your family warm when those bitter cold snaps and heavy lake effect snows roll in. While basic DIY tasks are manageable, it’s always worth the investment to have trained professionals caring for such a critical system. Their expertise helps ensure it’s running safely and reliably through another harsh Buffalo winter.
Signs Your Furnace May Need Repairs or Replacement Before Winter
Even if you’ve covered all the preventative maintenance steps to get your furnace prepped for winter’s wrath, you might still notice warning signs that something’s just not quite right. Here are some key red flags to watch out for:
Unusual Noises
Is your furnace sounding more like a clanging factory machine than a climate control system? Loud banging, rattling, squealing or grinding noises are pretty much never a good sign. Those sounds likely indicate there’s an issue with the blower motor, bearings or other internal components starting to fail. Get it checked out ASAP.
Inconsistent Heating
Another cause for concern is if you start noticing hot and cold spots around your home despite the thermostat being set to a consistent temperature. Or maybe certain rooms just never seem to get enough airflow and heat distribution from the vents. This uneven heating could signal anything from a cracked heat exchanger to ductwork leaks.
High Heating Bills
We’re all familiar with those sky-high utility costs that come along with a Buffalo winter. But if you notice a sudden, unexplained spike in your heating bills despite temperatures being around normal, it’s likely your furnace’s efficiency has taken a dive. That extra strain will show up in premium energy usage.
Furnace Age
Here’s the hard truth – even a well-maintained furnace can’t keep chugging along forever. If yours is over 15 years old, you’re on borrowed time. With the extreme workload furnaces endure during our harsh winters, their lifespan maxes out around 15-20 years on average. If yours is approaching that age, you may need to start budgeting for a replacement before it completely conks out when you need it most.
Frequent Cycling
Pay attention to how frequently your furnace is kicking on and off. If it’s cycling constantly in short bursts, it’s a sign something isn’t running properly. This excessive cycling puts extra wear-and-tear on components. It’s likely in need of adjustments, repairs or a deep cleaning to prevent compounding issues.
If anything seems amiss with your furnace’s operation, don’t rationalize it away or wait until winter hits to get it checked out. Addressing any of these potential red flags now gives you time to make furnace repairs or even plan for a full system replacement if needed.
Don’t Let Jack Frost Catch You Unprepared!
As winter looms, don’t leave your furnace’s performance up to chance! Your furnace stands as the thin red line between cozy nights by the fire and a frostbitten, miserable existence. Make sure to take the preventative steps now so that you will stay toasty all season long.
Avoid any rude awakenings when that first Arctic blast arrives – pick up the phone and dial (716) 272-2371 to get Reimer’s top-notch furnace services on the schedule. With our veteran technicians on the case, you can kick back and stomp out Jack Frost’s icy wrath!
