Preparing Your Ohio Home Heating System for Winter

Ohio winters put a furnace under sustained load for months. The failures we get called out for in January are almost always things that were visible in October.

Start with the filter. A clogged filter chokes airflow, which drives up the heat exchanger temperature and trips the high-limit switch. Replace 1-inch filters every 90 days, or every 30 days if you have pets or run the system continuously.

Next, check the flame. A healthy gas burner flame is steady and blue. Yellow, orange, or a flame that rolls out of the burner box points at incomplete combustion, which produces carbon monoxide. Shut the system down and call for service if you see it.

Test every carbon monoxide detector in the house and replace the batteries. Detectors have an expiration date printed on the back, usually 7 to 10 years from manufacture. Replace expired units.

Finally, walk the exterior. Clear leaves and snow from the intake and exhaust vents, and make sure the condensate drain on a high-efficiency furnace is not blocked. A frozen condensate line will shut a furnace down on the coldest night of the year.