Don't Wait for the First Cold Night to Test Your Heat

Why test it before you need it?

Pine Belt winters are often mild, so your heater can sit unused for months. Most people don't think about it until a cold front comes through and they reach for the thermostat. That's when a small problem turns into a cold night, with your family or your business waiting on a repair.

When you test it early, you get to choose the timing. If something is wrong, you can have it looked at while the house is still comfortable.

How do you test your heat?

• Pick a mild day. You just need the heat to run for a little while.
• Switch the thermostat to heat. Set it a few degrees above the room temperature. You should feel warm air from the vents within several minutes.
• Let it run. Stay nearby until it finishes heating and shuts off on its own, then listen for it to start back up as the house cools.
• Walk through the house. Check that each room is getting air, and pay attention to new sounds or smells.
• Set the thermostat back when you're done.

What else should you check while you are at it?

• Check the air filter and replace it if it looks dirty. A clogged filter makes the system work harder.
• Replace the thermostat batteries if yours uses them.
• Open your vents, and move furniture, rugs and curtains away from them.
• If you have a heat pump, clear leaves and debris from around the outdoor unit.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

What is normal when the heat first comes on?

A faint burning-dust smell the first time you run the heat is common, because dust settled on the system over the summer. It should fade quickly. If it stays, or smells like burning plastic or wiring, turn the system off and call us.

Heat pumps run longer in cold weather, and the outdoor unit goes through defrost cycles that can give off a little steam. Thick ice that doesn't clear is not normal.

When should you call for service?

• The system runs, but the air coming out stays cold.
• The system turns on and off every few minutes.
• Airflow is weak, or some rooms stay much colder than others.
• You hear new banging, grinding or squealing.
• The breaker trips more than once.

Safety first: if you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the house and call your gas company or 911 from outside before calling us.

We work 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. Call (601) 268-3486, or see how our heating repair service works. We sell and work on all brands, so you can call us even if we didn't install your system.

Want someone else to handle it?

A fall check gets your heating looked at before the first cold snap, and it's a good time to ask questions about your system. See how we approach maintenance, or ask about our maintenance agreements, which include spring and fall visits so your system gets looked at before each season.