When winter arrives in a few weeks, you need to know that your heater is ready for action. If you're like most homeowners, you've probably had your heater under wraps for the past few months. Unfortunately, that could mean that your heater has some issues that will need to be addressed before winter arrives. One of the easiest to make sure that your heater is ready for winter is to take care of the repairs before winter arrives. The first thing you need to do is schedule an HVAC inspection. When contacting your HVAC contractor, be sure to include the following items on your service list. 

Clean the Filter Compartment

If you change your furnace filter at least once every three months, you might think that's all you need to do to keep the ducts clean and clear. However, that's not necessarily the case. You might not realise this, but dirt and dust can collect in the filter compartment. Unfortunately, the debris can create a couple of problems for you. First, dirt and dust can undermine air quality in your home. Second, the accumulation of dirt and dust can increase the risk of furnace fires. To prevent those problems, have your HVAC contractor clean the filter compartment while they're servicing the system for winter use. 

Check the Electronic Ignition

If you want to avoid a winter heater malfunction, have your HVAC contractor inspect the electronic ignition. It's not uncommon to ignore the electronic ignition until there's a catastrophic malfunction. Unfortunately, if you wait that long to repair the electronic ignition, you could be left without a heater this winter. Luckily, your HVAC contractor can detect problems that you might not have noticed. If your heater was struggling to run through an entire heating cycle last winter, be sure to have the electronic ignition repaired as soon as possible. 

Clear the Combustion Flue

If your heater was emitting a burning or musty odour last winter, there's a good chance that the combustion flue is dirty. If that's the case, your heater may run too hot, which could increase the risk of flue fires. Not only that, but the dirt can increase the buildup of harmful gases, which can escape into your home. To reduce those risks, include the combustion flue in your pre-winter HVAC repairs. 

Get ready for winter. Before you're left out in the cold this year, have your HVAC contractor take care of the heating repairs described above.