Avoid a Furnace Breakdown this Thanksgiving with these Prevention Tips

09 Nov Avoid a Furnace Breakdown this Thanksgiving with these Prevention Tips

SERVING AREAS OF BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, AND KINGSPORT TN

After everything that’s happened this year, most of us are especially looking forward to the holiday season. Thanksgiving is a big deal for many families. If you’re hosting your holiday feast, it’s also a big job with lots of cooking and cleaning. You want everything to go smoothly and you don’t want any unforeseen problems to crop up—like a malfunctioning furnace. Thompson Electrical Service wants everyone to have a great Thanksgiving. That’s why we compiled this list of prevention tips you can follow to avoid a furnace breakdown this holiday.

Step 1) The filter

When’s the last time you checked your furnace filter? Continuing to use a dirty filter can lead to uneven heating of your home, hinder the indoor air quality, lead to higher utility bills, and even be the cause of a total furnace breakdown. The best advice we can give is to check your filter a few days before Thanksgiving and, if it’s dirty, replace it. In general, you want to check your filter every 30 days and replace it as needed—usually at least every 90 days.

Step 2) The thermostat

Perform a simple signal test to ensure your thermostat is working properly. Have someone stand near the furnace, then raise the thermostat higher than the current room temperature. In just a few seconds, whoever is standing adjacent to the furnace should hear a click, followed by the sound of heated air flowing through the vents.

Step 3) Cut it back

If you’re hosting a meal on Thanksgiving, we recommend turning down your thermostat. Start by reducing it by five degrees, and then maybe cut it back more as the day transpires. Between all of the cooking and the extra people in your home, there will be plenty of additional heat generated, and you don’t want your guests to be sweating at the table. Cutting back your thermostat on Thanksgiving also will save you a few bucks when your next utility bill arrives.

Step 4) Check ventilation

If you have a gas furnace, the flue and surrounding components should be inspected yearly. The flue vents allow dangerous gases, including carbon monoxide, to escape the furnace as it operates. Other gases the flue vents include nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which can make people feel sick. If the flue is clogged or not venting properly, these dangerous gases could enter your home, creating a fatal circumstance. To make sure everyone will be safe for your big event, schedule a furnace inspection in Kingsport today.

Step 5) Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

This is a general safety tip you should follow no matter what your Thanksgiving plans might be. Check your detectors to make sure that they are functioning properly and replace the batteries every three months.

Furnace Tune-ups in Kingsport

To make sure that every component of your heating system is functioning properly—from the furnace to the thermostat to even your detectors—the best way to get peace of mind is to schedule an inspection with a qualified, experienced professional like the ones at Thompson Electrical Service. Our certified HVAC technicians in Kingsport are knowledgeable on a wide variety of heating systems and heat pumps. We also offer annual tune-ups to ensure your furnace continues to work even on the coldest or busiest days.

To find out more, call our office at (423) 343-5726 to make an appointment.

Thompson Electrical Service is proud to serve the heating and air needs of our residential and commercial customers in the areas of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, Tennessee.