Sometimes you may not know what to expect when you turn your furnace on for the first time. This is why professional furnace maintenance is essential. No matter where you live, it may still cool down during the night, and you may want to turn your heat on to warm up. But before you can do that, you need to make sure that your furnace is in good working condition. Continue reading for some tips to prepare yourself for what to look for when switching your furnace on for the first time.

Tips for Checking Your Furnace
If you are turning your furnace on for the first time, here are several things to help prepare you.

Before turning your furnace on, ensure that your filter is clean. If you are unsure when you changed your filter last, it is likely overdue. Also, you need to make sure that the area around your furnace is free of clutter, boxes, and anything else that can pose a fire hazard. Finally, make sure that you test your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, especially if they are powered by batteries.

You may notice a funny smell when you turn your furnace on for the first time. During the summer, you do not use your furnace, leaving dust to accumulate. This is what you smell when you turn the heater on. But, the good news is that the smell shouldn’t linger too long. However, if it does, it is time to call a professional HVAC company to check it out.

When turning on your furnace, be sure to watch out for warning signs. There may not be any issues, especially if you have been properly maintaining your furnace, but it is still a good thing to check. If you notice any strange noises or if your furnace sounds like it is in distress, it is time to call a professional for service to avoid further damage.

Never wait until you actually need your furnace to turn it on. This is a big mistake that many homeowners make. Knowing any potential issues with your furnace beforehand is important so you can already have it in your budget to have it repaired and ready for the colder weather.

Why Professional Maintenance Is Important
The only way to ensure your furnace will function properly this winter is by having it often serviced by a professional. It will ensure the following:

Improvement in air quality – If you do not change the air filters on your furnace, the air in your home can be affected. A dirty air filter will only circulate dust and other debris built up over time.
Reduction in utility bills – A well-maintained furnace can keep your utility bills down since your home will be heated efficiently. This also means not paying for expensive repairs.
Not as many future repairs – When you maintain your furnace, it will extend its lifespan and make malfunctions less likely to happen.

Furnaces offer forced-air heating which is a common way of keeping warm during the colder parts of the year. If you live in an area that has all four seasons, you are likely familiar with furnaces and other heating systems. A broken furnace is not something you want in the middle of winter as it’s not only an annoyance, it can also be very dangerous. Regular maintenance and repairs keep your furnace running at its best and help you keep warm when you need it. The parts of a furnace system include the following.

The Parts of a Furnace System

The Pilot Light: Found in older furnaces, a pilot light ignites the gas to start the heating process when the furnace is turned on.
Thermocouple: The thermocouple works with the pilot light and when it senses the pilot light is lit it signals the gas valve to open.
Hot Subsurface Igniter: If you have a newer furnace, this part replaced the pilot light. This type of igniter is electric-powered, and it raises the internal furnace temperature to ignite the gas.
Flame Sensor: This part works alongside the hot surface igniter. A safety device, the flame sensor detects heat and when no heat is detected it shuts off the gas supply.
Gas Valve: This part serves two important roles. First, it controls the gas sent to the furnace, and second, it adjusts the pressure of the gas coming into your home, so it is suitable for use in the furnace.
Burners: Burners work by mixing air and gas to make a flame which in turn generates heat to warm your home.
Heat Exchanger: When fuel is burned, toxic gases are created. The heat exchanger holds these toxic gases, so they can be safely vented away from your home. The exchanger also gives off the heat these gases produce, warming the air.
Draft Inducer Motor: This motor turns on before the gas is pumped into your furnace. Its role is to help push toxic fumes out of your home via the vent pipe. The inducer motor creates a vacuum to help do this.
Pressure Switch: This part works with the inducer motor. This switch is activated by the vacuum the draft inducer motor creates. Once activated, this switch allows gas to flow into your furnace.
The Blower Motor: This is the part of your furnace that pushes warm air into the duct system and throughout your home.
Blower Motor Capacitor: This is the part that helps start and regulate the blower motor’s speed to ensure it runs constantly.
Limit Switch: This switch detects the temperature in the furnace itself. If your furnace runs too hot, the limit switch shuts off the gas to prevent any safety hazards.
Knowing what parts make up a furnace can help you take better care of it and know when professional help is needed.