Fall Furnace Maintenance Checklist: Get Ready for the First Cold Night

The best time to get your furnace ready is early fall, before the first cold night. A fall furnace maintenance checklist covers a few simple homeowner checks, like the air filter, thermostat, vents, and carbon monoxide detectors, followed by a test run and a professional tune-up.

Fall in Olathe can be deceptive. One afternoon you're outside in short sleeves. A few nights later, temperatures drop and you're standing at the thermostat wondering whether it's finally time to turn on the heat.

Checking your furnace early gives you time to fix problems before heating systems throughout Johnson County start running every day.

At Jack Harrison Heating & Air Conditioning, we help homeowners in Olathe, Overland Park, Lenexa, Leawood, Gardner, Shawnee, De Soto, Spring Hill and surrounding areas get their heating systems ready for winter.

Here's what to check before you turn the heat on for the season.

• Early fall, before the first cold night, is the best time to check your furnace and schedule a tune-up.
• Start with simple checks: replace a dirty air filter, switch the thermostat to HEAT, and test-run the system on a cool day.
• A dusty smell the first time the heat runs is usually normal. A smell that lingers, gets stronger, or smells electrical or like melting plastic means it's time to shut the system off and call a technician.
• Test your carbon monoxide detectors every fall. A furnace tune-up doesn't replace working CO alarms.
• Schedule a tune-up if your furnace is working normally. Schedule a repair if it won't start, isn't heating, keeps shutting off, or is making new noises.

Start with one of the easiest things a homeowner can do.

A dirty air filter restricts airflow through your HVAC system, making your equipment work harder to move heated air throughout your home.

Before heating season:

• Check your filter.
• Replace it if it's dirty.
• Make sure it's installed in the correct direction.
• Continue checking it regularly throughout the heating season.

How often you'll need to change it depends on the filter, your household, pets and other factors. And don't assume a more restrictive filter is automatically better. Your HVAC system still needs adequate airflow to operate correctly.

Call a pro if: the filter is clean but airflow from the vents still feels weak.

Switch the thermostat from COOL to HEAT and set the temperature a few degrees above the current room temperature. If your thermostat uses batteries, replace them now so a dead screen doesn't leave you without heat on a cold night.

If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, review the schedule. Settings that made sense in summer may not work for winter.

Call a pro if: the thermostat is set correctly but the furnace doesn't respond.

Furnaces often share space with storage in basements, closets, and garages. Move boxes, cleaning supplies, paint, and anything flammable away from the unit, and make sure nothing blocks the access panel.

A gas furnace needs air to burn safely, and a technician needs room to work.

Call a pro if: you notice rust, soot, or scorch marks on or around the furnace.

Don't make the first freezing night of the year your furnace's test run.

Pick a cooler fall morning, raise the temperature a few degrees, and listen for the system to begin its normal heating cycle. Then walk around the house and check:

• Warm air from the vents: once the furnace is running, the air coming from your vents should feel warm within a few minutes.
• A normal start: the furnace should start without repeated clicking, a loud bang, or several attempts to light.
• A normal shutoff: it should shut off once it reaches the temperature you set.
• Even heat: most rooms should warm up at a similar rate.

Testing your furnace early gives you time to address a problem without waking up to a cold house in November.

Call a pro if: the air stays cool, the furnace won't light or keeps trying to, it won't shut off, or it runs for a few minutes and shuts down again.

One of the most common questions homeowners ask us every fall is:

"Why does my furnace smell when I turn it on for the first time?"

A temporary dusty smell can occur when a furnace hasn't operated for months and accumulated dust heats up. It usually fades after the first few heating cycles.

What you don't want to ignore is a smell that persists, becomes stronger, smells electrical, resembles melting plastic, or otherwise seems unusual. If you're uncertain about an odor coming from your heating equipment, shut the system down and have it inspected rather than trying to diagnose a potentially unsafe issue yourself.

If you smell rotten eggs or sulfur, that can be a natural gas leak. Leave the house right away and call your gas company or 911 from outside.

Call a pro if: the smell lasts beyond the first few heating cycles or gets worse.

You probably know what your heating system normally sounds like. Pay attention to new:

• Banging
• Grinding
• Screeching
• Rattling
• Buzzing
• Repeated clicking

Also watch for short cycling, when the furnace repeatedly starts and stops without completing a normal heating cycle.

Unusual sounds don't automatically mean you need a new furnace. They do mean something deserves investigation. Jack Harrison repairs all major furnace brands, and we waive the diagnostic fee when you choose to complete the repair with us.

Call a pro if: a new noise doesn't go away, or the furnace keeps turning on and off.

Before winter, walk through your house and look at your supply vents and return-air grilles. Furniture, rugs, curtains and other household items can inadvertently restrict airflow.

Closing vents in unused rooms can also alter airflow through a system. If you're experiencing significant temperature differences between rooms, don't simply start closing registers. Have the underlying airflow issue evaluated.

Call a pro if: one room stays much colder than the rest, even with every vent open.

Many high-efficiency furnaces vent through two white PVC pipes on an exterior wall or the roof. One brings in air for combustion and the other carries exhaust out. Leaves, nests, and drifting snow can block them, and a blocked pipe can shut the furnace down.

Walk around the outside of your home and make sure the pipes are clear. Check them again after a heavy Kansas snow.

Call a pro if: a pipe is damaged or disconnected, or you can't clear what's blocking it.

If your home has fuel-burning equipment, carbon monoxide safety deserves special attention.

Make sure your CO alarms are installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, test them, and replace batteries or the detector itself as required by the manufacturer.

And remember: a furnace tune-up does not replace functioning carbon monoxide alarms in your home.

If a CO alarm sounds: get everyone out of the house and call 911 or your gas company from outside.

This is the big one.

Once the first sustained cold weather arrives, HVAC companies begin receiving calls from homeowners whose furnaces won't start. Scheduling furnace maintenance in Olathe before winter gives you an opportunity to find potential problems while you still have time to address them.

Jack Harrison offers both a 15-point heating check-up and a more comprehensive 25-point heating tune-up. Depending on the service selected and your particular system, technicians inspect items such as thermostat operation, filters, breakers, safety devices, gas-related concerns, and the system's heating cycle, then provide a report of their findings and recommendations.

And because we believe homeowners deserve choices, a recommendation is just that: a recommendation. You're always welcome to say no, or to schedule the repair for a later date.

A furnace tune-up is a professional inspection that checks your heating system's safety, performance, and condition before winter. Think of it as a health check for your heating system before its busiest season.

A technician looks for things a homeowner may not notice simply by turning up the thermostat. Depending on the service and your system, that includes:

• Thermostat settings and operation
• Air filter condition
• Electrical breakers
• Safety devices
• Gas leak inspection
• A full test of the heating cycle

You'll get a report of what the technician found and any recommendations, so you have a clearer picture of your equipment's condition before winter.

Jack Harrison offers a 15-point heating check-up and a more comprehensive 25-point heating tune-up. The 25-point tune-up is also included in our VIP Maintenance Plan.

Most manufacturers require at least annual maintenance to keep system warranties valid. Our VIP Maintenance Plan includes two tune-up visits a year, one in spring and one in fall, and we'll call you when it's time.

This distinction can save homeowners some confusion.

Schedule a furnace tune-up or check-up if: your furnace appears to be working normally and you want it inspected and prepared for winter.

Schedule furnace repair if: the furnace won't start, isn't producing heat, repeatedly shuts down, is making significant abnormal noises, has an unusual persistent odor, or is otherwise malfunctioning.

Maintenance is preventative.

Repair is diagnostic.

If something is already wrong, tell us when scheduling so we can book the appropriate service.

An older furnace doesn't automatically need to be replaced.

We'd rather evaluate what you actually have.

If your furnace is still operating safely and a sensible repair can keep it running, we'll explain that option. We work on furnaces of any age, and if it can be fixed, we'll fix it.

But if you're dealing with repeated breakdowns, increasingly expensive repairs, comfort problems, or an aging system nearing the end of its useful life, fall can also be a good time to explore replacement before an emergency forces the decision.

Jack Harrison offers free new-system estimates and second opinions, as well as financing options for qualifying customers.

Kansas weather doesn't give us much warning. Today you may have the windows open. A few weeks from now, your furnace could be running every night.

If something on this checklist didn't seem right, or you're ready to schedule your fall tune-up, call Jack Harrison Heating & Air Conditioning at (913) 308-3131.

We're a locally owned and operated HVAC company in Olathe, serving homeowners throughout Johnson County and the surrounding Kansas City area.

When should I schedule a furnace tune-up in Kansas?

Early fall, typically September or October, is the best time because you can test and maintain the system before you're depending on it every day. Scheduling before the first cold snap also helps you avoid the rush when furnaces start breaking down.

How often should a furnace be serviced?

Annual HVAC maintenance is a good baseline, and some equipment warranties may require documented maintenance. Always check the requirements for your specific manufacturer and warranty.

How much does a furnace tune-up cost?

Our 15-point heating check-up is $79 and our 25-point heating tune-up is $149. Current specials can lower the price, and VIP Maintenance Plan members get two tune-ups a year included in their plan.

Why does my furnace smell when I first turn it on?

Dust that accumulated while the furnace wasn't operating can create a temporary odor during the first heating cycle. A persistent, electrical, plastic-like, or otherwise unusual smell warrants professional attention.

Why is my furnace running but not heating my house?

Possible causes range from thermostat or airflow issues to ignition, burner, blower, or other component problems. Because several different failures can produce similar symptoms, professional diagnosis is preferable to replacing parts based on symptoms alone.

Should I replace an older furnace before it breaks?

Not necessarily. Age is one factor, but overall condition, repair history, safety, efficiency, and comfort should all be considered. If you're uncertain after receiving a replacement recommendation, Jack Harrison offers free system estimates and second opinions.

Does Jack Harrison repair furnaces from brands other than Trane?

Yes. Jack Harrison services all furnace brands and models, including major brands such as Trane, Carrier, Lennox, and Bosch.