September in Rhode Island can feel like summer right up until it doesn’t. Temperatures can drop quickly once October arrives, and the first cold snap of the year has a way of catching people off guard. Heating oil deliveries increase, service calls stack up, and nobody wants to be the household that discovers the furnace doesn’t start on the first genuinely cold night.
The good news is that a little preparation now, while the weather is still mild, makes the whole heating season go much more smoothly.
Schedule Your Annual Heating Tune-Up Now
Fall is the busiest time of year for HVAC companies. September and early October are when everyone realizes they should have done this sooner, and appointment availability gets tight fast. Scheduling your annual furnace or boiler tune-up in September gives you the best chance at convenient scheduling and means your system gets inspected and cleaned before you actually need it.
A proper tune-up includes cleaning the burner and heat exchanger, checking the flue for proper draft, inspecting the ignition system and safety controls, testing combustion efficiency, and making sure everything is running as it should. Most issues that lead to mid-winter breakdowns are detectable (and fixable) at a tune-up.
Check Your Heating Oil Tank Level
If you heat with oil, take a look at your tank level now. Running out of heating oil is one of those problems that feels completely avoidable after the fact, but it still happens every year. If your tank is below a quarter, consider an early fill while demand is still lower. If you haven’t yet set up automatic delivery, September is a great time to think about it. Automatic delivery tracks your estimated usage based on weather and keeps the tank from running low without you having to track it yourself.
Test Your Thermostat
Switch your thermostat to heat mode and turn it up a few degrees above room temperature. Your heating system should come on within a minute or two. Let it run for a few minutes and confirm that air or warm water is actually circulating. If nothing happens, the problem could be as simple as a tripped circuit breaker or a switch that got bumped, or it could be the first sign of something that needs attention before cold weather arrives.
Replace Your Air Filter
If you have a forced-air heating system, a clean filter at the start of heating season makes a real difference in both air quality and efficiency. Clogged filters restrict airflow, make the blower work harder, and can shorten equipment life. Set a reminder to check it monthly through the winter.
Bleed Your Baseboard Radiators
If you have a hot-water baseboard system and some of your baseboards don’t seem to heat up fully, trapped air is usually the culprit. Bleeding the radiators releases the air pocket and lets hot water circulate properly. It’s a simple process, and many homeowners do it themselves, but if you’re not sure how or if you have persistent issues, a technician can take care of it during your annual service visit.
Think About Your Chimney
If you have a chimney serving an oil-fired furnace or boiler, it should be inspected annually. A blocked or deteriorating flue can cause dangerous carbon monoxide issues. McKee Brothers offers chimney inspection and cleaning services as part of our full home comfort offerings, so you can take care of that alongside your heating tune-up.
Don’t wait for the first cold night to find out your heating system has a problem. Call McKee Brothers today at 401-723-1100 to schedule your fall tune-up and get ahead of the rush.