{"id":2451,"date":"2026-09-28T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/?p=2451"},"modified":"2026-09-29T10:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T14:26:20","slug":"7-things-to-check-before-your-first-furnace-run-of-the-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/heating-service\/7-things-to-check-before-your-first-furnace-run-of-the-season\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things to Check Before Your First Furnace Run of the Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As cooler weather approaches, a few simple checks can help prepare your home for the first furnace run of the season. Now is also the right time to schedule professional <a href=\"\/service-areas\/edina-mn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">furnace maintenance in Edina, MN<\/a> with our expert team. A little preparation now can help you spot problems before you need dependable heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2>1. Properly Shut Down the AC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before switching from cooling to heating, make sure your air conditioner is properly shut down for the season. Turn the thermostat from cooling to your preferred heating setting rather than running both systems at once. If your outdoor unit has seasonal care requirements, follow the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations rather than improvising with a cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>2. Replace the Furnace Air Filter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A clean filter helps your furnace move air through the home without unnecessary resistance. Check the filter before the first heating cycle and replace it if it is dirty. During the heating season, check it regularly and replace it according to the manufacturer\u2019s instructions. Homes with pets, allergies, dust, or heavier system use may need more frequent changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>3. Clear Space Around the Furnace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Look around your furnace and remove boxes, storage items, cleaning supplies, and other clutter. The area around the equipment should remain clear so air can circulate and technicians can safely access the furnace for inspection or service. Never store flammable materials near heating equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>4. Make Sure Vents Are Unblocked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Walk through the house and check supply vents and return grilles. Move furniture, rugs, curtains, or other objects that may block airflow. Keeping vents open and unobstructed helps distribute heated air throughout the home and allows the system to operate as intended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>5. Check Your Thermostat Batteries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your thermostat uses batteries, replace them if they are weak or overdue for replacement. A thermostat with reliable power can communicate properly with the furnace and maintain your selected temperature. This is also a good opportunity to confirm that your thermostat is set to heat before you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>6. Test Carbon Monoxide Detectors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Heating equipment should be paired with working carbon monoxide detectors. Test your detectors and replace their batteries as needed. Make sure you have functioning detectors in appropriate locations, particularly near sleeping areas, and follow the manufacturer\u2019s recommendations for testing and replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>7. Schedule Professional Furnace Maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>These homeowner checks are useful, but they do not replace professional <a href=\"\/heating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">furnace maintenance<\/a>. Our expert team can inspect the furnace, check important components, verify safe operation, examine electrical connections, and look for developing problems that may not be obvious from the outside. Professional maintenance can also help your system operate efficiently and reliably as the heating season gets underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Schedule Before the First Cold Snap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do not wait until the first genuinely cold night to discover that your furnace needs attention. Scheduling maintenance before heating demand rises gives our expert team time to identify concerns and complete needed service before your calendar\u2014and ours\u2014gets busy. Take care of these simple checks now, then schedule professional furnace maintenance so your home is ready for the season ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"\/contact\/send-message\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Rely on Residential Heating and Air Conditioning and you\u2019ll \u201cFeel the Difference\u201d! Serving The Twin Cities Since 1991.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As cooler weather approaches, a few simple checks can help prepare your home for the first furnace run of the season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[76],"tags":[111,89],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2451"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2452,"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451\/revisions\/2452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.resheatandair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}