Fall Furnace Checklist for Bucks County Homes

Run the heat before you need it

Turn the thermostat up about ten degrees above room temperature on a mild day and let the system run for fifteen minutes. You want heat at the registers, no burning smell that lingers past the first few minutes, and no odd banging or rumbling. Finding a problem in September means a scheduled appointment. Finding it in January means an emergency call at 2 a.m.

The short list

• Replace the air filter — a clogged filter is the single most common cause of a furnace shutting down on a limit switch.
• Clear three feet around the furnace. Storage boxes against a furnace cabinet are a fire and airflow problem.
• Check that every supply and return register is open and not blocked by furniture or rugs.
• Test your carbon monoxide detectors and replace the batteries. Any home with gas, oil, or propane heat needs working CO detection.
• Look at the flue and intake pipes outside for nests, leaves, or damage.
• Listen for a rumble or delayed ignition on startup — that one is worth a call.

What a professional tune-up adds

A tune-up covers what you can't see: burner combustion, heat exchanger condition, gas pressure, flame sensor cleaning, blower amp draw, and safety controls. On an older system, a cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue that has no symptom you'd notice from the hallway.

If you'd rather not track the timing yourself, our ComfortShield Club includes the tune-up along with priority scheduling and no emergency fee.