Home heating systems across the region have been firing up over the past few weeks as temperatures have started to drop, especially overnight.
Marty Bruin, general manager of Bruin's Plumbing & Heating, says if you haven't tested out your furnace yet, you'll want to fire it up before it gets really cold.
He had some advice for homeowners.
"A common thing is to check their furnace filter, which depending on the filter, it may not need to be changed every month but we recommend that people check their furnace at least once monthly," suggested Bruin.
For those with high efficiency furnaces, Bruin reminds homeowners to check the sidewall venting throughout the winter to make sure that the termination point is not blocked with snow or ice.
"We recommend that a professional tune-up and cleaning is done annually on the furnace," added Bruin. "It's just a proactive measure that makes sure that everything is good and ready with the furnace and that they won't have any problems during the winter with it."
Bruin noted that one problem that can be prevented involves flame sensors inside the unit. He says over time they can get dirty or coated and if they don't sense the flame any longer then it becomes a safety issue and the furnace shuts down and won't fire up.
For thermostats, Bruin recommends installing one that is programmable.
"Some people, to save energy, they like to set them back during the day if they're at work or in the evening when they're sleeping. It does come down to personal preference and where people feel comfortable as far as the temperature in their home."
Bruin's Plumbing & Heating offers professional tune-ups, in addition to a monthly maintenance program.
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