We hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer. It might feel a little early to be thinking about heating season, but with cool Montana mornings and chilly nights already showing up, many of us are starting to think about turning the furnace on for the first time.
We want to share a few simple tips to help make that transition from cooling season into heating season go smoothly for you and your home.
1. Start Fresh with a Clean Air Filter
Here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: your air conditioning and your furnace use the same blower, the same ductwork, and the same filter. So that filter you’ve been running all summer for cooling (and probably through a lot of smoky air) is the same one your furnace will use.
If your filter has been in there 2–3 months, it’s ready for a replacement. A fresh filter keeps your furnace running efficiently, prevents overheating, and helps your indoor air stay cleaner. If you’re not sure where your filter is or what size you need, don’t worry. Give us a call at Air Quality Mechanical—we’ll make sure you get the right filter for your system.
2. Change Those Thermostat Batteries
Here’s a little thing that gets overlooked: thermostat batteries. When’s the last time you changed them? For most people, it’s been a while. We recommend doing it once a year, right at the start of heating season.
Why? Because dead batteries can shut down your furnace. Imagine being away on vacation and your thermostat dies—the furnace stops, the house gets cold, and you could be dealing with frozen pipes. Replacing those batteries now is a quick and easy way to avoid headaches later.
3. Check Your Furnace Vent Pipes
If you’ve got a high-efficiency furnace, you probably have two PVC vent pipes running out the side of your house. These are really important: one brings in fresh air for combustion, the other exhausts gases like carbon monoxide.
Over the summer, critters love to make those pipes their home—bees, birds, even mice. Add in leaves or maybe a kayak or bike leaned up against the wall, and suddenly your furnace can’t breathe. Before you fire it up this fall, make sure those pipes are clear and free of debris.
4. Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up
Lastly, one of the best things you can do for peace of mind is have a professional tune-up before the real cold hits. Just like going to the doctor or dentist, your furnace needs a check-up too. Preventive maintenance helps catch small issues before they turn into big problems, keeps your system running safely, and extends the life of your equipment.
At Air Quality Mechanical, we take pride in treating our customers like family. A seasonal tune-up gives you confidence that when the temperatures drop, your furnace will be there for you—safe, reliable, and efficient.
Final Thoughts
So there you go:
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Fresh filter
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Fresh thermostat batteries
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Clear vent pipes
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Professional tune-up
Four simple steps that can make all the difference heading into Montana’s heating season.
If you need help with any of these, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Air Quality Mechanical. We’ll make sure your home stays warm, safe, and comfortable all winter long.