Depending on where you live, winters can get pretty cold. In order to stay warm inside the house, you need your heating system. Unfortunately, if your furnace is not ready to take on that additional stress, it may break down or cause your utility bill to skyrocket. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take to ensure your furnace is ready to tackle the winter season. Here are three of them.

Change Out the Air Filters

When furnace air filters become clogged excessively with dust, dust, pet dander, debris, etc., the furnace will find it difficult to efficiently deliver heat to your home. As a result, your utility bills will increase. To help prevent this from occurring, replace the old filter with a new filter. If your filter is electrostatic, simply wash it thoroughly and then put it back in. With a filter in your furnace that is clean and clear of dirt and debris, the indoor air quality will be vastly improved, ensuring that you and the rest of your family are able to breathe fresh, clean air, not to mention the fact that your furnace will thank you for being able to work more efficiently.

Adjust the Thermostat

Before winter really sets in, make sure that you switch your thermostat to heating so that you can check to ensure that your furnace is working properly. As soon as you adjust your thermostat, listen to make sure the furnace actually comes on. If it fails to switch on, check to ensure all wire connections are secure. If they aren't, tighten them. If this doesn't seem to remedy the situation, contact a heating contractor for professional assistance.

Oil the Moving Parts

If the moving components of your furnace are not properly lubricated, it can result in unnecessary stress on the entire system. To prevent unanticipated breakdowns of the furnace, make sure that the blower motor as well as bearings are properly lubricated. You can also improve the performance of your furnace by cleaning the caps that cover the bearings. Your heating contractor will be able to perform a full inspection of your furnace and determine which parts need to be lubricated.

Regardless of whether your heating system is in need of a simple tune-up or something more extensive, a professional furnace maintenance contractor from your area has the expertise and tools to get the job done to ensure that you and your family are comfortable and warm this winter season.