Winter Heating Tips for Louisville, KY Homeowners

Test the heat before you need it

The first chilly night is when many homeowners discover their furnace won't light. Switching the thermostat to heat on a cool fall afternoon gives you time to notice a problem while the weather is still forgiving.

Expect a faint dusty smell the first time the furnace runs each year as dust burns off. That should fade within a short while. A lingering burning smell, unusual noises or no heat at all are reasons to call. See a furnace that won't heat for common causes.

Schedule a fall heating check

A technician can clean the flame sensor, check the igniter, test safety switches and look at the venting before the furnace starts working hard. For heat pumps, a fall visit confirms the defrost controls and refrigerant charge are ready for frosty mornings.

Booking this in early fall tends to be easier than waiting until a cold snap, when many homeowners are calling at once. Read about what a visit includes under HVAC maintenance.

Keep air moving through the house

Heating systems depend on steady airflow just as much as air conditioners do. A clogged filter can cause a furnace to overheat and shut its burners off.

• Check the filter monthly during the heating season and replace it when it looks dirty.
• Keep supply registers open, even in rooms you don't use much, so the system stays balanced.
• Move furniture, curtains and rugs off vents and return grilles.
• Leave clear space around the furnace itself; it is not a storage shelf.

Look after a heat pump in cold weather

Plenty of homes in the region heat with a heat pump, which behaves differently from furnaces. On damp, cold days the outdoor coil collects frost, and the system runs a defrost cycle to melt it. You may feel cooler air indoors for a few minutes and see steam drifting off the outdoor unit. That is normal.

Keep snow, ice and leaves away from the outdoor unit so air can flow. Leave the thermostat on regular heat; the system brings in auxiliary heat on its own when it is needed. Reserve emergency heat for times when the heat pump itself has stopped working and help is on the way.

Make safety part of the routine

Fuel-burning appliances need a few safety checks every winter. These steps are quick and genuinely important.

• Test carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries on schedule. Place alarms near sleeping areas and on each level of the home.
• Keep the area around the furnace and water heater clear of paint, cleaners and other flammables.
• Make sure outdoor vent pipes are not blocked by snow, leaves or nests.
• Should you notice a gas odor or hear the CO alarm, walk out right away; reach 911 or the gas utility by phone only after you're outdoors.

Never try to relight a burner beyond the steps printed on the unit's label, and never open furnace panels to look for a problem.

Prepare for sudden cold snaps

Arctic air can push into the Ohio River valley quickly, sometimes after a run of mild days. When a hard freeze is forecast, confirm the heat is working, set the thermostat to a steady temperature rather than turning it down sharply overnight, and keep cabinet doors open on exterior walls to help warm air reach plumbing.

If the system struggles to keep up during extreme cold, a heat pump may lean more on auxiliary heat and a furnace may run nearly nonstop. That is not always a failure. Rooms that keep getting colder, or a system that stops running entirely, are reasons to call for furnace repair.