With winter right around the corner, the time to address any issues with your home's heating system is now. You don't want to wait until the first cold front hits. You may find yourself waiting behind numerous other procrastinating homeowners to schedule a service call with a reliable HVAC technician.

There are some simple things that you can do to help ensure your furnace is able to maximize the heat produced within your home this winter.

1. Schedule a tune-up for your furnace.

Most homeowners don't use their furnace during the warm summer months. A furnace that has sat dormant for a few months could pose some problems when the time to turn on the heating unit arrives once again.

Schedule a service appointment with your HVAC technician now. A tune-up completed well in advance of the first winter storm will give you time to address heating problems by making the necessary repairs and ensure that your furnace is ready to perform.

2. Check all of your air vents and returns.

The hot air produced by your furnace is distributed throughout your home via a system of air vents and returns. It can be easy for these vents and returns to become blocked by furniture, drapery, and stored items during the summer months. Take the time to complete an inspection of each vent and air return in your home before turning on your furnace.

Ensure that there are no blockages restricting airflow and take the time to open any vents and returns that have been inadvertently closed during the summer. Something as simple as unblocking vents and returns can really make a difference when it comes to the efficiency of your furnace this winter.

3. Invest in replacement filters.

As you use your furnace to heat your home through the winter months, you will need to check the air filter regularly to maximize the performance of your heating unit. Air passes into the furnace from the surrounding environment. The air filter eliminates particulate matter in the air to prevent damage from occurring within the furnace during the heating process.

A clogged or dirty air filter can reduce the efficiency of your furnace, so you will need to change the filter often during the winter. Invest in a cache of replacement filters now to ensure that you always have a fresh filter available when one is needed during the upcoming cold season.

For more information, contact a company like Allied Mechanical & Electrical, Inc.