Did you know there are things you should do every year to get your furnace ready for the Colorado cold? As a Denver resident, you probably already know that the winters can be harsh, meaning your furnace will have to work hard for months on end to keep you and your family safe and comfortable. Early preparation is the best way to avoid costly breakdowns.
Preparing your furnace for winter in Denver, CO, doesn’t need to be stressful. Call Squeak’s Plumbing, Heating, and Air for a furnace tune-up in Denver, and we’ll take care of it for you. We offer quick, comprehensive furnace maintenance appointments that’ll keep your furnace running smoothly all winter long and help you avoid furnace malfunctions or HVAC emergencies.
Why Furnace Prep Is Essential in Denver
The Mile High City area has unique local factors like high altitude, which may affect a gas furnace’s combustion efficiency, and sudden temperature swings that take a pleasant day down below freezing in just a few hours. The average winter weather sits below 53°F, often dipping below 25°F. At these temperatures, your furnace faces high demand.
For these reasons, it’s crucial to book furnace maintenance in Denver before it gets too cold to avoid serious risks like:
- Breakdowns: An overworked, under-maintained furnace will struggle to meet your heating needs and will eventually break down, leaving you in the cold.
- High energy bills: When your furnace has to work harder to achieve your desired indoor temperature, it uses more energy and costs more to run.
- Unsafe conditions: A broken furnace can lead to dangerous conditions like CO₂ leaks, fire hazards, poor indoor air quality, and electrical shock risks.
Schedule HVAC service in Denver today, and avoid these issues while minimizing future heating repairs.
Furnace Winterization Checklist
Ready to learn how to prepare your furnace for cold weather? We’ve created this easy-to-follow winter furnace checklist for Denver residents to make it easier than ever to minimize risk and keep your home heating system running well.
Air filters
If your air filters are dirty, they impede the heating process, blocking airflow and forcing your furnace to work harder than it should to heat your home. We recommend you replace or clean your air filters according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In most cases, this is every one to three months, depending on use.
Thermostat
Test your thermostat to make sure it’s reading the ambient temperature properly and that all your settings work as they should. Upgrading your thermostat to a programmable or smart option before winter is a great way to minimize your energy use while maximizing your comfort and convenience.
Clear obstructions
Move clutter and obstructions away from the furnace, vents, and registers, and inspect them for dust and debris. Any blockages in the HVAC system will stop your furnace from performing well.
CO₂ detectors
Check your carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they’re working properly and have a fresh battery before turning on your furnace. This is an important safety measure that you should never skip.
Sealing and insulating
Energy-efficient heating in Denver goes hand-in-hand with good insulation and properly sealed doors and windows. The more your home can keep the heat in when it’s cold outside, the better.
Professional tune-up
Scheduling a professional tune-up before it freezes is the most important tip of all. This will allow an HVAC professional to inspect every component of your home heating system, test everything, and ensure it’s ready for the winter months.
Professional Furnace Tune-Up: What’s Included
When you schedule a professional furnace tune-up in Denver with Squeak’s, our experienced HVAC technicians will perform a variety of maintenance tasks, clean the system, lubricate moving parts, make sure system controls work, tighten electrical connections, and look at the electrical, gas, or oil connections (if relevant). Your HVAC tech will also check:
- Ignition system
- Blower motor
- Safety controls
- Heat exchanger
- Gas pressure (if relevant)
- And more
We work thoroughly, and if you like, we’re more than happy to show you areas that could be improved in the future for better energy efficiency and furnace longevity. We can also perform small repairs while we’re in your home, time permitting, and we’ll go over what needs to be done in the near future if we find any signs of an upcoming issue.
Scheduling regular maintenance will keep your furnace running efficiently and safely, and it’ll also give you peace of mind. You can trust that our technicians will leave your home heating system ready for another winter in the Centennial State.
Energy-Saving Tips for Denver Winters
If you prioritize energy efficiency, there are a few steps you can take as a homeowner to improve your furnace efficiency, save energy, and lower your utility bills.
Smart thermostat use
Smart thermostats can remember your temperature preferences and automatically adjust to your needs, offering energy-saving modes when you’re away from home or sleeping.
Adjusting humidity levels
The dry Colorado air may actually make your home feel colder, but adjusting the humidity can help. You’ll experience less static electricity in your clothes, and the air may feel warmer.
Using ceiling fans for circulation
Your furnace’s blower fans work hard to push heated air throughout your house. If you add ceiling fans, your furnace can run more efficiently and save energy.
Scheduling regular maintenance
An HVAC technician will clean and calibrate your furnace to improve airflow and ensure all parts work together as they should, resulting in better overall performance. This reduces energy waste and may lower your energy bills.
When To Call a Professional in Denver
Some signs you need heating repair in Denver.
Strange noises
There are some serious furnace sounds that you should never ignore. These include:
- A loud boom: If your gas furnace makes a loud boom or bang when it turns on, there might be an ignition problem causing a gas buildup that eventually “explodes” when it ignites.
- Chirping: If you hear a chirping sound, it’s probably not a bird in your furnace but is more likely a sign that parts are out of alignment and are rubbing together when the furnace turns on.
- Rattling: A rattling sound could simply be a loose screw, or it might mean you have a dangerous crack in your heat exchanger that could leak carbon monoxide into your home.
- Squealing: There are many causes of a squealing sound, including loose belts, dry moving parts that need lubrication, or a malfunctioning blower motor.
- Metal on metal: Clanging or screeching might mean the blower fan is loose or broken, or there’s a loose part causing damage inside the furnace.
Weak airflow
If the air coming from your vents is weak and doesn’t heat your home enough, you might have clogged air filters or a blower motor malfunction, or it might be as simple as forgetting to open a vent all the way. Check your vents and filter, and if you still can’t find the problem, call Squeak’s for repairs.
Uneven heating
Many problems can cause uneven heating. If you’ve noticed some rooms are colder than others, or you just can’t get comfortable, schedule service. It might be a clogged air filter or leaky duct, or it might be time for a furnace upgrade.
Rising bills
A good indicator that something’s wrong with your furnace is higher-than-usual energy bills. If your energy bills increase when your furnace is operating, it’s likely using more power than necessary to heat your home, indicating a hidden issue. Call Squeak’s for a furnace inspection, and we’ll diagnose and fix the problem for you fast.
Frequent cycling
If the furnace is turning on and off quickly, without fully heating your space, this is an indication that the furnace is functioning incorrectly and needs repair. It might have restricted airflow, the thermostat could be malfunctioning, or it may even be the wrong size for your home. The only way to diagnose short-cycling is to speak to an expert.
Whether you’ve noticed signs your heating system’s about to fail, or you want to book a proactive maintenance appointment, there’s no time like the present to schedule your next tune-up.
Contact Squeaks for Professional Furnace Service Today
Early furnace preparation will help keep your furnace running safely while improving its efficiency and providing you with peace of mind. We recommend scheduling your appointment before the first freeze of the season to make sure your heater is good to go and can handle all your needs during the upcoming cold season.
Contact Squeak’s Plumbing, Heating, and Air to schedule your next furnace tune-up in Denver before the winter weather sets in. We’re available today to book your appointment. Call us 24/7 at (720) 640-7894, or use our online form, and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. Your home heating system will thank you.
