P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling offers these tips to avoid a costly heating system breakdown

By Derek Cannon, Service Manager; P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling

When the leaves change color, and the hot apple cider is flowing, it’s a magical time of year. It’s also the time of year when homeowners hold their breath while they turn on their heating system for the first time, crossing their fingers that they hear the familiar and comforting roar of their furnace or boiler.

There are cases, however, when the system does not turn on—when the house stays cold, and your system needs repair. There are a few easy things you can do yourself to try to mitigate any need to hire a professional in cases like this. Although, there are situations when it’s best to leave a job to the professionals.

The first tip is that regular system maintenance performed by a professional is recommended by all equipment manufacturers annually. This maintenance limits untimely breakdowns and identifies any future problems, while also confirming the system is still running efficiently, safely and reliably.

Two basic maintenance tips to homeowners that can typically be done without the help of a professional are replacing the batteries in your thermostat and replacing the filter in your furnace.

Thermostat batteries can last a long time. However, when they start to go bad, they can significantly impact your system and its ability to heat your home. If your thermostat doesn’t tell the system to turn on, it won’t turn on. Sometimes a system breakdown can be avoided by simply having a few AA batteries on hand.

Filters can also have a major influence on how well your system runs. A dirty air filter will negatively affect how well your system is running and can cause it to overheat and shut off. Ensuring your filter is clean can be a major money saver, as a filter, as simple and inexpensive as it may be, can cause a lot of very expensive problems if not regularly changed. Fan motors, heat exchangers, limit switches and even more components can have their lives shortened by dirty filters and can cost thousands of dollars to rectify. Major problems can be avoided by simply replacing your filter.

The final tip when it comes to filters is to check the side of your filter for an arrow. This arrow indicates “air flow.” This arrow should always point toward the furnace, not away from it.

Here at P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling, we offer routine maintenance, which checks not only batteries and filters, but also more complex parts as well, and ensures a reliable system when the weather gets cold.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling at 440-583-6175 or check the website PKWadsworth.com.