5 Things You Should Do Before You Turn the Heat On for the First Time

We love fall for all kinds of reasons: the changing colors of the leaves, the newly brisk air, the pumpkin spice lattes (duh). But the real perk to the cooler weather is getting to turn on the heat in our house and cozy up with a flannel socks and a warm blanket. There’s just nothing better than having some chilly weather outside but defrosting inside!

However, when your heat hasn’t been on in a while, there are some thing you should consider before turning it on for the first time this season. You know, so you don’t blow your house down. Kidding. Kind of.

No matter where you live, there are always some days that are colder than others that make you want to turn up the heat inside. So this applies to everyone, even you guys in the south! Read on for the important steps to take.

  1. Take preventative measures.

    Call a licensed air conditioning company to come perform a routine maintenance and inspect your heating system before you turn it on, no matter what kind of heating system you have. There are a lot of issues you might run into when you turn it on for the first time in a while, and this can help prevent those (better safe than sorry!). Just an FYI, a high-quality maintenance procedure should cost around $70-$100, so if you get quoted more than that, beware (it’s common!).

  2. Change and clean your filter.

    It’s important that your air filter is fresh and new before turning up the dial on the heat. The air filter is designed to pull and filter out all sorts of harmful contaminants that may be in the air, but after sitting for a while, there’s a good chance it could be filled with things like dirt, dust, pet dander, and even mold. You can clean this out yourself or call a professional.

  3. Be aware of its location (and surroundings).

    After a long, hot summer, you might’ve placed a few things near the heater (which is most commonly located in garages or attics), so be sure you remove any potentially dangerous obstructions. You know, any type of products with chemicals or flammable materials. You want your heater to have a good space of its own with nothing much around it.

  4. Inspect your vents.

    After not using it for a while, it could be filled with debris, leaves, even birds nests. You can wipe it down yourself or have a professional come clear it out if you’re not sure where it’s located. Either way, it has to get done before turning on the heat.

  5. Test it out.

    After all these steps are taken, give the thermostat a little test run before you commit to turning it on full blast for a whole day. This will help ensure everything is running smoothly and you don’t anticipate any issues. If anything smells or seems funny, call a professional to see if something’s up. And if not, enjoy the warmth from fall through winter!

Are you excited for the cooler temps and to get your heat on full blast this season? What are your favorite parts of the colder seasons?