In the winter, your furnace is essential to keeping your family warm, safe and comfortable. You don't want to be stuck with a furnace that has trouble heating when cold weather blows in.

To prepare your furnace for winter and keep it running efficiently all season long, it's important to take the right steps. The best place to start is by finding your local Lennox^® dealer. This trained professional can ensure your furnace is running at its best and help you explore current promotions from Lennox.

Before you turn on the heat, follow these tips to care for your furnace.

Change Your Filters Regularly

If your furnace uses disposable filters, aim to change them every 1-3 months unless you have an annual filter. If you live in a dusty or dry climate, try to change your filters more often to preserve furnace performance and air quality.

Ensure Your Intake Pipe is Clear

Modern condensing furnaces are more energy efficient, generating more heat with less fuel. To do this, they require an external intake pipe for their air supply. If this pipe becomes clogged or blocked, this impacts not only your furnace's efficiency, but it can also cause a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide.

If you have a high-efficiency furnace, look for the intake and exhaust pipes on the exterior of your home. Make sure they're free of ice, snow, bird nests or insects. If you cannot easily check your pipe's status, your local Lennox^® dealer can do it for you.

Use a Programmable Thermostat

With a programmable thermostat, you can control your energy savings by matching your system's heating and cooling output to your home's demands. When your family members are out for the day, the system will run less often because no one is there to appreciate the perfect air your home creates for your family's health and enjoyment. 

Keep Up with Preventive Maintenance

While a licensed HVAC technician should perform major maintenance, you can conduct some preventive maintenance on your own. Before you investigate your system, be sure to shut off power to the unit and wait for the blower to stop. You can then run a sound check by turning your unit on and listening for any unusual banging or rattling sounds. It's also a good idea to look for signs of moisture on windows or rust build-up on the vent pipe. This can indicate improper operation.

Is Your Home Ready for Winter?

You can have the coziest blankets and softest slippers, but what comfort will that bring if your environment isn't what it should be? Think about the air that surrounds your family. You can make it perfect—and Lennox can help. Find your local Lennox^® dealer today.