These 40 and 50 degree days are just a tease Buffalo, and you know it. Winter is coming!

If you haven’t already prepared your furnace for the long winter ahead, now’s the time to do so.  We just may have a white Christmas.

Your furance, like any appliance, needs maintenance. Here are some basic furnace repair tips for you and your family:

1. Clean or Replace Your Furnace Filter

This is a basic task.  Simply by changing or cleaning your filter, you can help block dust and dirt from blowing through your heating ducts.  A clean furnace filter will help your HVAC system run more efficiently because it will require less energy to circulate air through the home.

2. Schedule Seasonal Furnace Maintenance

Before the start of any heating or cooling season, you should have your system inspected and/or repaired by one of the experts at Emerald Heating and Cooling.  Preventative maintenance can prevent costly repairs and help you save on energy costs.

3. Carbon Monoxide Inspection

It is so very important that you make sure your furnace is not emitting carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and potentially fatal gas. Gas furnaces should be inspected for carbon monoxide leaks at least once a year AND every home should have carbon monoxide detectors.

If you are looking for more furnace maintenance tips, or if you need one of our furnace repair experts to pay you a visit, simply give us a call 681-0100

We know its not winter yet, but you don’t want to be caught off guard.

Your home does not have to be cool and drafty this winter, no matter how cold it gets in Buffalo. Heating your home efficiently should be a priority. There are a number of steps you can take to keep your home more comfortable.

1. Start with a full-system inspection. Ask us to examine your entire heating system. We will check for furnace repair, heat pump plus ductwork, registers and insulation.

2. Use your fireplace carefully. When you’re not using the fireplace, keep the chimney damper tightly closed. Leaving the damper open is like leaving a small window open. It lets your precious heated air slip quietly up the chimney.

3. Plant more pine trees. Plant pine trees, cedar trees and other evergreens on the north and west sides of your house. Since they do not have leaves to lose in the autumn, evergreens help block cold winds all winter  long.

4. Plug those plugs. Electrical outlets on outside walls can allow cold winter air into your house. Seal them off with easy-to-install insulating kits available at most hardware and home-supply stores. Also, seal and insulate around attic doors, vents, water pipes and other openings.

5. Close the door. Keep your outside doors closed, or at least try to minimize the times the doors are opened and closed. Each time you open a door, warm air rushes out and cold air rushes in.

6. Step up to a two-stage gas furnace.  Most furnaces have one speed – full blast, even on mild days when you need just a little heat.  However, some newer furnaces use a two-state ignition system that provides just the right amount of heating output to achieve maximum comfort. They operate on a lower heating output setting most of the time, then power up to fully capacity when the weather turns really cold. The result is smoother, more even heating throughout your home.