• Uncategorized ,
• 14 May

By Josh Kattenberg

The cool days and brisk nights of this past weekend gave us in Sioux Falls, SD, our first hint of winter this year. As we adjust to the reality that winter is fast approaching, it’s good for property managers to keep a few winterizing tips in mind for their rental properties. Preparing furnaces for winter is important, and here are a few tips for doing so.

The furnace needs a visual inspection. The furnace should be examined for soot, both inside and out. The flame in the burner should be blue and should not be flickering. If soot and a flickering, yellow flame is present, this can mean that the combustion isn’t good and it should be checked by a professional.

The furnace should also be cleaned, as dirt is the main cause of furnace failure. The furnace should be turned off and allowed to cool, and the power breakers should also be turned off before the furnace is cleaned. Then, the furnace should be vacuumed to remove dust. It’s important to remove dust from the burners, bottom of the furnace, and blower compartment. The blower fan should be wiped clean. The pilot can be cleaned by blowing on it through a drinking straw, and the flame sensor can be wiped clean with an emery cloth.

The furnace needs a little maintenance work at this time of year. If the furnace has a fan belt, its tightness should be checked. The belt should “give” by about ½ inch. If the belt fan is cracked, it should be replaced. The furnace filter should be replaced now, and it should continue to be checked monthly throughout the winter and replaced as necessary. The ducts, especially the return air ducts, should be checked for leaks. If leaks are present, they should be repaired with metal tape. To ensure CO does not build up, the exhaust flue should not be blocked by bird’s nests or other obstructions. The flue cap should be taken off and looked through to the outdoors. The cap should then be replaced securely.

Finally, there are a few things to check in the rest of the house. The heat vents and return vents should not be blocked with furniture or anything else. A CO detector should be placed near the furnace.
A professional HVAC tech will also check the gas pressure and they will inspect the heat exchanger for cracks. A cracked exchanger will cause carbon monoxide to escape into the home. Carbon monoxide is odorless and can be deadly.