Winter prep starts with a healthy heating system

The calendar says October, so make sure your home’s heating system is ready for the cold with some simple winter prep work.

One easy first step is to change or clean your furnace filter per the manufacturer’s instructions. It takes just a minute or two and will help ensure your furnace is working as efficiently as possible.

Next up, be sure the warmth from your system has a clear path to heat your home by cleaning and clearing any obstructions from your radiators, registers and baseboard heaters.

While you’re at it, show your heating system a little love by having a trained professional perform a seasonal tune-up. Not only will services like this help identify potential issues like carbon monoxide (CO) leaks, they will also make sure your entire system is in tip-top condition before winter arrives. (Note this is also a good time to check the batteries in your home’s CO and smoke detectors.)

And if it’s time to upgrade your heating system, consider moving to energy-efficient ENERGY STAR^® models. Although they may be slightly more expensive to purchase, they’ll end up saving you money in the long run.