With fall in the Mid-Atlantic comes its share of temperature swings; is your home up to it? You may be wondering if your heating system will hold up when the first cold snap sets in. Or perhaps you are not sure when someone last had a good look at your furnace, well before you were put to the test.
Such questions are bound to give one pause and there is no reason to be alone in them. For as long as we have been in business (1981 to be exact), F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical has been putting homeowners in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and DC in a position to face the changing seasons. Give us a ring at (703) 997-2894 to speak with one of our licensed technicians on preparing for the cooler months ahead.
In this part of the country an HVAC system has a hard time of it in the fall. You might be on the air conditioner one week and the next you are at the thermostat to put the heat on. The strain of that kind of back-and-forth after a summer of hard work is considerable.
Making Fall the Time to Prepare
To leave checking your heating until you see frost is something of a gamble. Better to use the fall to put right any small matters before they turn into an emergency come the cold weather. Scheduling is more relaxed too, so you can have service done your way without the rush.
There is merit to fall maintenance for several reasons:
- After months of cooling your system could do with some attention
- It is less of a hassle to deal with minor issues now
- An efficient, well-tuned system will be easier on your energy bill
- You will not be in a queue of homeowners all phoning in at once for the first freeze
- You can put a stop to a part going bad and find yourself without heat on the coldest night of the year
A Few Things to Do on Your Own
Not all of your fall preparation calls for a professional. Put in a little effort and you will see a difference in efficiency and comfort when the mercury falls.
We would suggest these basics:
- Put in a new or clean air filter and make a point of checking it each month
- See that there are no leaves or other debris around the outdoor unit
- Turn the thermostat to heat and make sure it does what it should
- Open up any supply or return vents that furniture may be obstructing
- When the system first comes on, listen for anything out of the ordinary
- Verify your carbon monoxide detectors are in order with new batteries
The importance of that final item is often underappreciated. With gas heating equipment in use, a functioning detector is as basic a safety measure as you will have in the house.
For the Professional’s Touch
One can only do so much. Some things are better handled by a technician who has the training to get to the parts you cannot.
Make a call if the system is having trouble making the temperature you want, or if you detect a burning smell or gas with the heat on. If your bills have gone up for no apparent cause, or the unit is cycling on and off with undue frequency, or you have not had a tune-up in a year or more, a professional is in order. Our men will do a complete inspection of your system and its safety controls to ensure it can stand up to the winter. And with every F.H. Furr technician being drug-tested and background-checked, you are aware of who is in your home.
What Sets F.H. Furr Apart
Our “Absolutely the Best” brand promise is no empty talk. We will tell you the cost up front with our flat-rate pricing and there is no high-pressure selling from us. On top of that we have a 100 percent satisfaction commitment to back our work.
You can count on us 24/7 so you are not left in the cold if an urgent matter arises; book before 5pm on a weekday and we can often accommodate same-day service. Those looking for some peace of mind may want to consider our Preferred Partner Plans for regular upkeep, and we offer financing for more substantial repairs.
From our 18 offices in Northern VA, the DC Metro, Richmond, Maryland and Delaware, an F.H. Furr team is close by. We also take pride in our F.H. Furr Cares program and what we are able to put back into the community.
Rather than wait for a cold night to cross your mind, let an insured, licensed technician from F.H. Furr put your home in order for the fall. Call (703) 997-2894.
