Days are shorter, nights are cooler, leaves are falling—and winter will soon be here. Now is the time to make sure your furnace or HVAC system is prepared for Minnesota’s signature cold weather. But where do you start?

Use our annual furnace maintenance checklist below to make sure your furnace or HVAC system is running in tip-top shape before winter hits. You’ll save money on your heating bills and avoid expensive emergency service calls on cold winter days.

1. Replace your furnace air filter.

Replacing your furnace air filter is an easy, cost effective action that offers big benefits. In fact, this one action could save you up to 15% on your heating bills and maximize the life of your furnace, according to Angie’s List.

At minimum, you should change your filter with the changing of the seasons, but you should be checking your furnace filter monthly and changing if necessary. Think of it like regularly changing your bed sheets.

2. Inspect and clean your chimney.

Make sure soot hasn’t built up and birds aren’t nesting. This will improve heating efficiency, ensure carbon monoxide can escape safely and potentially prevent a fire.

3. Seal air leaks.

Sealing air leaks, as well as adding some insulation, can save you up to 10% on your energy bills, according to ENERGY STAR. Check for drafty windows, disintegrated weather stripping around doors, and gaps around plumbing lines, chimneys and flues.

Think about it this way: Would you ever trust a leaky boat? Of course not. Hold the same standards for your home and you could save hundreds of dollars annually.

For more advice on how to seal leaks, check out HouseLogic’s article on easy ways to seal air leaks around the house.

4. Make sure air vents are open and unobstructed.

Blocked air vents make your furnace work harder, increasing the system’s temperature and the the risk of a fire. Remove furniture, plants, toys, equipment or any other objects that obstruct air flow.

5. Inspect and clean heating ducts.

Damaged and dirty air ducts can drive up heating bills, degrade air quality and put additional stress on your furnace or HVAC system. Inspect them to make sure there are no punctures, dents, disconnected parts, dust, mold or mildew. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, a professional furnace maintenance and repair professional can certainly help.

6. Clean your windows.

Cleaning your windows lets the winter sunshine in and the warmth that comes with it. Maximize sun exposure by paying special attention to the south side of your home. This will not only warm your home up, but also help reduce your energy bills a bit.

7. Clean your home.

Furthermore, when winter arrives, you’ll be spending more time than ever indoors with the windows sealed shut. So, now is the time to get rid of dirt, dust, and allergens to improve air quality and create a more comfortable environment for you and your family.

8. Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature.

Consider using a programmable or WiFi thermostat to keep your home comfortable at all times. A programmable thermostat allows you to customize your temperature settings at different times throughout the day, so you can use less energy while you’re sleeping or not at home.

9. Adjust your ceiling fans to rotate clockwise.

Ceiling fans are great for circulating air during any season. In cooler months, run your fans in a clockwise rotation. Doing this will help you draw cool air up and force warm air down.

10. Winterize your A/C unit.

Winterizing your A/C unit will help protect it from the winter elements, which can help you save on costly repair bills when the warm weather returns. Even though winter can feel like an eternity, summer will come again, and you’ll be happy you took the time to winterize.

11. Check your gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger.

According to ENERGY STAR, improperly operating gas or oil connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. In addition, a dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger could cause equipment to operate less safely and efficiently. The best part? This work can almost certainly be done without calling in a professional and can extend the life of your furnace.

12. Test your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms.

Sometimes, furnaces can leak carbon monoxide, which is a dangerous odorless gas. Making sure you have carbon monoxide detectors and they’re working correctly is an important safety item that should be done before closing all the windows.

13. Check your condensation drain.

If your system is a high-efficiency furnace or is a full HVAC system that includes air conditioning, it will have a condensation drain. This drain can get clogged, leading to water damage and higher humidity levels. Check and clear any blockages.

14. Make an emergency heating plan.

Sometimes, no matter how much furnace tune up you do, your furnace can fail in the peak of winter. Since Minnesota winters can get in the low double digits, make sure you have a backup plan. Be prepared with space heaters, extra blankets, or even a plan to stay somewhere until the furnace is fixed.

15. Clean around your furnace.

With furnaces often in a storage room or basement, they can often become surrounded by boxes and stray papers. Before turning your furnace on, make sure there’s nothing flammable around it. Keeping the area around your furnace clear not only improves safety but also accessibility for maintenance.

16. Get an HVAC tune up or inspection.

All furnace manufacturers recommend an annual tune-up by a professional. Consider it the equivalent of getting your teeth cleaned every six months. Sure, you may be able to live without it, but if you make the investment you’ll have a lot fewer problems, and a much more pleasant life, in the long run.

Ready. Set. Check.

Winter will be here before you know it. Use this furnace maintenance checklist as a guide to help you make sure you and your heating system are ready for the cold.

If you have any questions or concerns about your furnace or HVAC system, contact Welter Heating. We offer more than 100 years of furnace repair and maintenance experience, and we’re ready to help.