With the winter season quickly sneaking up on us, there’s more to do around the house than just getting the skis out of storage. It means turning off that air conditioner, and getting ready to warm the house with the furnace and heat recovery ventilator (HRV). While the simple flick of a switch or the turn of a knob would be nice, there’s more to do to make sure the furnace and HRV are ready for winter. In this blog, we’ll briefly discuss the functions of both a furnace and HRV and what you can do to make sure that they’re both in working order for the upcoming winter.

New Furnace Filter

Your furnace is your central heating system to your house. Using the vents, it sends heat to rooms throughout your house that allow the whole house to stay warm during the winter months. It’s important to keep the furnace maintained and in working order so that it’s ready for constant use in the winter months.

One bit of maintenance that comes with having a furnace, is changing its filters. There are a number of reasons for changing your furnace filter, such as extending the life of the furnace, reducing energy costs, and maintaining healthy air quality, among others. When to change your furnace filter can vary, though it is recommended that it’s changed at the beginning of each winter season. If the furnace is then used constantly throughout the winter, a change every month is recommended, while three months should be fine for less frequent users.

Washing HRV Filters

A heat recovery ventilator is a machine that helps keep warm in the house while moving other air out and bringing fresh air in. Between cooking, washing, showering, and even breathing, it’s important that a house has a constant flow of fresh air coming in. Without this fresh air, a house can become very damp, which can lead to an increase of dust and mold – both of which can damage your health.

Like your furnace, an important part of your HRV is to ensure its filters are kept clean. Dirty filters can cause lower ventilation efficiency, which means more dirty air is staying in the house, and less clean air is able to get in. These filters should be removed and cleaned every two months. In most models, they can be easily removed and then cleaned with a vacuum along with some soap and warm water. This five-minute job can help save you money while also ensuring you and your family are receiving fresh air into your home.

If you have any questions about furnaces or heat recovery ventilators, or are just wondering how you can prepare your house for the winter, contact us and we’ll be happy to help!