Do These 5 Things Today to Get Ready for Winter

As temperatures drop, the last thing you want is to discover your heating system isn’t working on the first cold morning. Here are five essential tasks every Boston homeowner should tackle before winter arrives:

1. Test your heating system early

Don’t wait until the first freeze to turn on your furnace or boiler. Fire it up on a mild day in late September or early October and let it run for 15-20 minutes. Listen for unusual noises like banging, squealing, or rattling, and pay attention to any strange smells beyond the normal “burning dust” odor that happens after months of sitting idle.

What to watch for:</0>

• Uneven heating between rooms
• The system cycling on and off frequently
• Higher than normal energy bills once you start using it regularly

If anything seems off, schedule a service call now rather than waiting for winter when HVAC companies are swamped with emergency calls.

2. Replace Your Furnace Filter

This is the easiest maintenance task that homeowners skip most often. A clogged filter makes your system work harder, increases energy costs, and can even cause your furnace to overheat and shut down.

Quick tip: Check your filter monthly during heating season. If it looks dirty or clogged, replace it. Most standard filters cost just a few dollars and take less than five minutes to swap out.

3. Check for Drafts and Seal Air Leaks

Walk around your home and feel for drafts near windows, doors, and outlets. Cold air sneaking in means your heating system has to work overtime, and you’re literally watching your money blow out the window.

Easy fixes:

• Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows
• Use caulk to seal gaps and cracks
• Install foam gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls
• Check your attic access door for proper insulation

Even small improvements can make a noticeable difference in comfort and energy bills.

4. Protect Your Pipes from Freezing

When water freezes, it expands and can burst pipes, causing thousands of dollars in water damage. Frozen pipes are one of the worst winter emergencies, and given how easy they are to prevent, it’s surprising how common they are.

Prevention steps:

• Unscrew and drain outdoor hoses
• Shut off exterior water valves and drain the lines
• Insulate pipes in unheated areas like basements, crawl spaces, and garages
• Know where your main water shutoff valve is located (and make sure everyone in your household knows too)
• During extreme cold, keep cabinet doors open to let warm air circulate around pipes under sinks, and turn faucets on to a slow drip.

5. Schedule a Professional Tune-Up

Just like your car needs regular maintenance, your heating system performs best when it’s professionally serviced. Most heating-related breakdowns happen during the coldest weeks of winter when you can least afford to be without heat. A fall tune-up significantly reduces that risk.

The Bottom Line

Preparing your home’s heating and plumbing systems for fall doesn’t require a huge time investment, but it can save you from major headaches when the temperature drops. Start with these five tasks, and you’ll stay warm and worry-free all winter long.

Need help with your fall maintenance? Our team is ready to ensure your heating system is running safely and efficiently before the cold weather hits. Give us a call at 617-364-2200 to set up your service today!