Early fall: what you can do yourself
- 1
Install a fresh filter
Start the season clean, note the size, and buy two or three spares so you are not improvising in February.
- 2
Test the furnace before you need it
Run the heat on a cool September day and let it complete several full cycles. Better to find a problem then.
- 3
Clear the furnace area
Three feet of clearance. Move stored boxes, paint, and laundry away from the unit.
- 4
Walk the vent terminations
Check where the PVC pipes exit outside. Note where snow drifts and where roof runoff lands, and plan how you will keep them clear.
- 5
Open and clear all registers
Including in rooms you do not use. Closing too many registers raises static pressure and hurts the whole system.
- 6
Test CO alarms
Press the test button on every unit, replace batteries, and check the manufacture date — most units expire at 7–10 years.
- 7
Check thermostat batteries and schedule
Fresh batteries and a schedule that matches how you actually live this winter.
- 8
Book professional maintenance
September or October is the calm window. Demand across the region climbs sharply once the cold sets in.
During the season
- Clear a foot of space around outdoor vent pipes after every heavy snowfall.
- Watch for ice building at the exhaust termination during extended deep cold.
- Check the filter monthly; replace one-inch filters every one to three months.
- Keep an eye on the condensate pump reservoir for overflow or freezing.
- Listen for new sounds — squealing and grinding are early warnings worth acting on.
- Keep an emergency plan: our number, a couple of safe electric space heaters, and blankets.
Lake-effect specifics
Lake Erie drives the weather pattern that defines winter here. Bands of heavy snow can sit over the Southtowns or South Buffalo for hours while northern suburbs see little. Two practical consequences for your furnace: sidewall vent terminations get buried much faster than homeowners expect, and sustained cold stretches drive continuous furnace operation that finds every marginal component.
If your vent pipes are low to the ground on the side of the house where snow accumulates, note that now and make clearing them part of your shoveling routine rather than something you discover during a no-heat call.
Book fall maintenance — call 716-412-2677 for a free quote.
Call now for a free quote and service availability. Please have your 5-digit ZIP code ready.
Never heat a home with combustion appliances
Ovens, ranges, grills, and unvented fuel-burning heaters are carbon monoxide hazards indoors. If you lose heat, use electric space heaters safely or relocate temporarily.