As sultry summers give in to the lure of autumn’s sway and the leaves put on their darker hues, ready for that long trip from the tree branch to the ground, certain changes are put into effect. Shorts, skirts, and colorful shirts are replaced with sweaters, scarves, and ski suits, while cars are treated to engine coolant in preparation for the wintertime. Diets are quickly forgotten with the closing of the swimsuit season. With chillier times to come, we all need to prepare, but one crucial preparation seems to slip under the radar. The unsung hero that is the heating system in your home is often overlooked. We only seem to notice it when there is a malfunction. An inspection of it is due so as to avoid possible problems. If you are on the fence about when this should be done, allow us to elaborate on why fall is the best time for heating maintenance.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
Does the heading sound familiar? Proverbs and clichés tend to get a bad rap for some reason. Maybe because we have heard them so many times, we tend to forget they represent unadulterated truths. Wear and tear in any machine, system, or appliance comes with the territory. As with most things, it’s better to catch a potential problem sooner rather than later. The same goes for your heating system.
In most cases, it will have been waiting dormant for the sweltering sun to take its leave and for colder times to arrive. Before firing it back up, a check-up should be in order. Be sure to contact a professional company that can look at your heating system and fix whatever problems it may have. This will save you from far costlier interventions that could have popped up down the road due to negligence.
Time is of the Essence
We know, yet another catchy heading. Having covered proverbs, we have moved on to idioms. Scheduling a heating maintenance service in early September and one in mid-winter is not the same thing. So, the when of it all needs addressing. It may seem like the answer is a simple one, but it is actually three-fold:
- Before the cold winds freeze – It is pretty logical why fall is the best time for heating maintenance. Your heater will be inactive for the duration of the check-up, especially if some repairs are necessary. The early autumn sun can be quite pleasant. A January blizzard, not so much!
- Safety comes first- Ignoring the fact it’s second on our modest but nifty little bullet point list, safety is of the utmost importance. By getting an annual tune-up, you are safeguarding yourself and your family from potential leaks, blockages, or possibilities of being left without heat in the dead of winter. The safety aspects will depend a lot on what kind of system you have. Remember, finding the most efficient heating system for your home is another vital aspect to consider, but at the end of the day, they all require an expert to inspect them.
- Economics 101- Supply and demand. No matter what your area of expertise may be, you have probably heard of these two powerful words that seem to run the world. When is there a higher demand for heating and cooling contractors? In the fall or the winter? When contractor demand is at its lowest, this is when you should be making the call. They can probably arrive the same day or a couple of days later. This won’t be the case come December when everyone desperately needs their services.
Time is Money
Another heading, another idiom. It may not fit perfectly, but it is still a valid argument why fall is the best time to schedule system heating maintenance. It will ensure that your heating system will be operating at peak efficiency from the get-go. Up-to-date heating units use less energy and have minimal build-up. Furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, all heating systems have their own efficiency ratings, but what it boils down to (bad pun intended) is that if the rating drops, so does the efficiency. So what’s the bottom line? You will save on utility bills during the winter months by spending wisely in the fall. Furthermore, it is inevitable that at some point you will have to choose the best time to replace your heating system altogether. Regular checks will make sure that this will be done later rather than sooner, as they will prolong the life of your system.
Renovation Organization
I’m not going to lie; I have put off dentist appointments and physical check-ups at times due to a fear of what the medical professional examining me will say. Still, we all know it is better to deal with a problem head-on. If you suspect there could be a significant issue with your heating system, it’s all the more reason for you to schedule that fall check-up. It could require some serious repair work. If you had been planning on performing some additional renovations around the house, this could be the perfect time for them too. Still, the problem with renovations is figuring out how to organize your living situation. You are effectively living on a construction site. It can seem like an impossible situation, but the key is to stay organized during a home renovation. There are plenty of ways to survive the major renovation of your beloved house, as long as you stay cool and collected. Bite the bullet, do what needs to be done smartly and efficiently. You’ll be satisfied when it’s all done, and you are all snuggly and comfy in your new and improved home.
The Warm Light at the End of the Tunnel
There are plenty of good reasons why fall is the best time for heating maintenance. Hopefully, the above article has convinced you of as much. It may seem like a hassle, but the pay-off is worth it. Instead of being miserable and cold, dreaming about the seaside and everything you miss about the summer, you can be cozy and warm, thinking about golden sands and sunsets. There’s only so much a fully functioning furnace can offer; those beaches will still have to wait a few months. Show your heating system some love and care, and, in return, it will keep you safe and sound through the coldest of cold snowstorms.
