Winter Is Coming. Is Your Furnace Ready?

Get your furnace ready before the first cold snap: change the filter, clear the vents, check your fuel supply, test the thermostat and book a professional tune-up. October is easier than a January emergency call.

Start in September or October, not January

In the Capital Region, the Adirondacks and Vermont, heating season runs roughly October through April, and we routinely see -10°F to -20°F nights. A furnace that fails on one of those nights is a true emergency, and everyone else is calling for service at the same time.

A fall check costs far less than an emergency repair and finds problems while parts and appointments are easy to get.

The homeowner checklist

• Replace the filter. Start the season with a fresh one and check monthly.
• Clear the area. Keep boxes, laundry and storage at least a few feet from the furnace or boiler.
• Open and vacuum the registers. Make sure no furniture or rugs block supply or return vents.
• Test your thermostat. Raise the setpoint and confirm the system starts.
• Check CO and smoke detectors. New batteries now, not in December.
• Run it for a few minutes. Do it on a mild day so odd smells or noises are not a surprise later.

Check your fuel supply and outdoor vents

Many homes here run on delivered fuel. If you heat with oil or propane, check the tank gauge and schedule a delivery before the first cold weeks; prices and delivery schedules tighten in winter. Do not let the tank run low, because sludge at the bottom of an oil tank can clog the filter and stop the burner.

For high-efficiency gas and propane furnaces, the plastic intake and exhaust pipes exit through the side of the house. Keep them clear of snow drifts and ice buildup all season.

What a professional tune-up adds

A technician cleans the burners, checks ignition and safety controls, measures combustion, inspects the heat exchanger and venting, and tests the blower. Tune-ups start at $198.89, with gas and propane furnaces at $210.83 and oil furnaces or boilers at $276.67.

Superior CO-OP HVAC's maintenance programs bundle the visits so they happen every year without you having to remember. See our furnace repair and maintenance page for details.

Boilers and hot water heat need attention too

Many older Upstate homes heat with hot-water boilers and cast-iron radiators or baseboard. Before winter, check for leaks at valves and fittings, look at the system pressure gauge, and bleed any radiators that stay cool at the top. If a room never warms up, air in the loop is a common cause. Our boiler team handles repairs and replacements for all brands.

If your furnace is nearing the end

A rule of thumb is to multiply the repair cost by the equipment's age; if the result is $5,000 or more, replacement usually makes better sense. That is our "$5,000 rule," and the repair or replace guide explains it.

If you are weighing a heat pump to cut fuel costs, the Heating Cost Calculator compares oil, propane or gas with Mitsubishi options in about two minutes.

Prepare for a power outage too

Ice storms and heavy snow can knock out power for days in the Adirondacks, Washington County and Vermont. Most furnaces and boilers need electricity to run the burner, blower and circulator pumps even though they burn fuel, so a power cut means no heat.

Plan ahead: keep flashlights and blankets handy, know where your main shutoff and breaker panel are, and never run a generator in a garage or near a window. If you plan to connect a furnace or boiler to a generator, have it wired by a licensed electrician through a proper transfer switch. If pipes are at risk of freezing while you are away, see our guide on frozen pipes.

Frequently asked questions