The days are getting shorter in Franklin, TN, and the temperatures are starting to dip. This can only mean one thing: We’re officially ready to usher in those chilly winter months. Is your home ready?

If you’re experiencing furnace problems, it’s time to address them before they snowball into bigger issues. However, we all know that the best way to keep your unit in great shape is to prevent those small setbacks from occurring in the first place!

Today, we’re sharing the three top ways to avoid furnace repairs this season and beyond.

Don’t Skip Routine Maintenance

You don’t want to wake up freezing cold in the middle of the night, only to find that you have a broken furnace on your hands. To keep yours working properly, it’s important to stay on top of your routine maintenance.

One of the easiest steps is also one that most homeowners fail to do: clean your air filters!

According to one survey, 82% of U.S. homeowners fail to change their filters monthly, while 31% change them every few months. A staggering 29% never change them at all!

When your furnace is dirty, it has to work harder to pump clean air throughout your home. Not only can this aggravate allergy issues, but it also puts extra strain on the unit, which can lead to a breakdown later.

Keep Vents Open

The air registers in your home are in place for a reason. Unless an HVAC professional has told you otherwise, don’t close off more than 20% of them at any given time.

If you exceed this limit, it can dramatically change the direction of the airflow in your home, which also puts unnecessary stress on your system. Make sure the air can freely flow throughout each room, and avoid placing any objects on top of the vents.

Schedule Regular Tune-Ups

For most homeowners, bi-annual tune-ups are all that’s needed to avoid major furnace repairs. At each tune-up, an HVAC professional will assess your system and let you know if there’s anything they need to address.

Most teams also offer annual preventative maintenance plans so you don’t have to worry about scheduling each session. These usually offer significant cost savings, too!

Don’t Hesitate to Call

Many times, homeowners put off fixing a furnace because they believe the issue is minor in nature, or will naturally resolve itself. However, that doesn’t typically happen. Instead, the problems grow bigger and more expensive over time.

If you suspect anything might be wrong with your furnace, go ahead and call a team you can trust. This includes strange sights, smells, and sounds, or anything that seems out of the ordinary.

Avoid Furnace Problems With Us

When cold weather rolls around, the furnace becomes the MVP of your home. That’s why it’s important to keep it in excellent condition!

Don’t wait until you’re knee-deep in furnace problems to call our experienced, knowledgeable professionals. At Sewell Electric & HVAC, our technicians are ready to assist with any service, from installation and replacements to service and maintenance.