Why Early Fall Is the Time to Check Your Heat
The first cold morning is a bad time to find out your heating system has a problem. Everyone in the Little Rock area turns the heat on within the same few days, and that is when repair calls stack up. Checking your system now, while the weather is still mild, gives you room to fix things on your schedule instead of in a rush with a cold house.
A heating system that sat unused all summer has had months for dust to settle, parts to wear and small issues to go unnoticed. Air conditioning has been the focus since spring, and the furnace or heat pump has been waiting quietly the whole time.
What to Check Before You Turn the Heat On
You do not need tools for most of this. A few minutes of looking and listening can tell you whether it is time to call a professional.
Replace the Air Filter
A clogged filter is one of the most common reasons a system works harder than it should. Airflow drops, the equipment strains and rooms heat unevenly. Put in a fresh filter before the heating season begins and check it again every month or two while the system is running.
Clear Vents and Registers
Walk through the house and make sure furniture, rugs and boxes are not blocking any supply vents or return grilles. Heat that cannot move freely leaves some rooms cold and puts extra load on the system.
Run a Short Test Cycle
On a mild day, set the thermostat to heat and let the system run for several minutes. Listen for banging, squealing or rattling, and notice any odd smells beyond the light dusty smell that often burns off at first start. Confirm that warm air actually comes out of the vents and that the system shuts off when the house reaches the set temperature.
Check the Thermostat
Make sure the thermostat responds, the display is clear and the temperature it shows matches the room. If the display is blank or the system does not react when you change the setting, the thermostat or its wiring may need attention.
Signs Your Heating System Needs a Professional
Some problems are not a do it yourself fix. Call a technician if you notice any of these during your test run:
- The system will not start, or starts and shuts off quickly
- Rooms that stay cold while others get warm
- Loud or unusual noises while the system runs
- A burning smell that does not fade after the first few minutes
- Heating bills that climb without a change in how you use the house
If anything seems wrong with a gas appliance or you smell something you cannot explain, turn the system off and get it looked at before running it again.
When Repair Is Not Enough
If your heating equipment keeps breaking down or no longer keeps the house comfortable, it may be time to talk about a replacement. Our team installs new heating equipment, and we back the equipment we install with a 5 year warranty. You can read more about what we do on our furnace and heating page, and see how a new system comes together on our HVAC installation page.
Heating Help Across the Little Rock Area
Mathis Climate Control is a family owned and operated company with a Class A HVAC license, and we serve homeowners in Scott and the surrounding communities, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Benton and Cabot. If you would like your heating system looked at before the cold arrives, call us at (501) 605-2801 or send a request through our contact page.
