Durham’s first freeze usually arrives in early November, and by then the heating system has had the whole summer off. October is a good month to make sure it is ready. A few minutes of checking now means the first cold morning is comfortable instead of a scramble. Here is what to look at on each kind of system found in Triangle homes, and what a fall tune-up takes care of for you.
Three systems, three short checklists
Homes around Durham heat with heat pumps, gas furnaces, or oil furnaces, and each one needs a slightly different once-over before winter. None of these steps requires tools, and all of them are safe to do yourself.
If you have a heat pump
- Replace the filter, and set a monthly reminder for the heating season.
- Switch the thermostat to heat and set it three degrees above the room temperature. You should feel warm air at the vents within a few minutes.
- Clear leaves, pine straw, and shrubs two feet back from the outdoor unit so the coil can breathe.
- Notice whether the system runs steadily or starts and stops. If it cycles on and off on the first cold morning, that is worth a service call before the weather turns.
If you have a gas furnace
- Replace the filter.
- Test the carbon monoxide detector and put in a fresh battery. If the detector is past the date printed on the back, replace it. Our CO services page explains why this matters in a home with gas heat.
- Confirm the gas valve on the supply line is open.
- Run the furnace for fifteen minutes. A dusty smell that fades after a few minutes is normal. A smell that lingers, or anything that smells electrical, means shut it off and give us a call.
If you have an oil furnace
- Check the tank level and schedule a delivery before the first cold snap, when suppliers get busy.
- Replace the filter.
- Look around the tank, the fuel line, and the burner for any sign of oil. A wet spot is a reason to call before running the system.
- If the burner does not start, press the reset button once. Pressing it more than once floods the chamber with oil, so give it one try and then let us take a look.
What a fall tune-up takes care of
The checks above tell you the system runs. A tune-up tells you it runs safely and will keep running through January, which is a different thing. On a heat pump, our technician tests the reversing valve, the defrost control, the refrigerant charge, and the auxiliary heat strips that only come on during the coldest nights. Durham sees freezing nights from November into March, so those strips get called on regularly here. A strip that quit last winter will not announce itself until the next hard freeze, and we would rather find it in October. That is a standard part of our heat pump service.
On a gas furnace, the technician cleans the burners, tests the ignition and flame sensor, checks gas pressure, and inspects the heat exchanger for cracks. A cracked heat exchanger can let carbon monoxide into the house, which is why the fall visit matters more on a gas furnace than on any other system. On an oil furnace, the technician replaces the nozzle and filter, cleans the combustion chamber, adjusts the burner, and checks the flue. An oil burner that is out of adjustment wastes fuel and coats the heat exchanger with soot, so this yearly service tends to pay for itself in oil alone. The oil furnace page describes what is included.
Whatever you heat with, the visit also covers the blower, the capacitor, the electrical connections, the condensate drain, and the thermostat. If your thermostat is a decade old, this is a good time to ask about a smart thermostat that can flag a heating problem on your phone before the house gets cold.
When it is time to talk about replacement
Gas and oil furnaces last 15 to 20 years with regular service, and heat pumps 10 to 15. If your system is near the end of that range and needs a major repair, replacing it is often the kinder choice for your budget, and October is the month to make that decision calmly. Our technician will tell you the age of the system, what the repair would cost, and what a new system would cost to run, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you rather than on a cold morning. If you have gas service and an aging heat pump, a dual fuel system is worth asking about. It runs the heat pump on mild days and the furnace on the coldest ones, which suits a Triangle winter well.
Let us get you ready before the first cold morning
Happy Home Services has been Durham’s trusted heating and air experts since 1955, and we would be glad to get your system ready for the season. A tune-up booked in October means a convenient appointment and a warm house when the temperature drops. You can schedule online any time, or reach us 24/7 by phone or website chat. Members of the Happy Home Service VIP Club receive priority scheduling when the first cold snap fills the calendar, along with up to 25 percent off any repair the visit turns up.