Given how cold it has been in the St. Louis area this winter, nothing sounds better than a trip down south to some warmer weather. But before your leave for your winter getaway, it’s important to make sure that your home is ready for your absence, and that includes preparing your heating system. Before you leave for your vacation, take a list at our furnace checklist below!
Furnace checklist: things to do before your winter vacation
- Lower your thermostat setting. A winter vacation is the perfect time to save some money on your heating bills because your home will be unoccupied for several days in a row. Before you leave, set your thermostat somewhere between 55 and 60 degrees. This setting is low enough to save energy but warm enough to avoid the risks of freezing your pipes. If you have a programmable thermostat, use the vacation setting to override your normal settings and tell it when you expect to be back to your home will be nice and warm by the time you arrive.
- Check your air filter. To maximize your savings, check your air filter before you leave to see whether or not it needs to be changed. A clean filter will allow your furnace to operate efficiently and will make it easier to warm your home back up when you get home.
- Check your doors and windows. Before you leave, make sure that all of your windows and outside doors are tightly shut and sealed. If there are any openings in your doors and windows, it will allow cold winter air to get into your home and force your furnace to work harder.
- Open cabinet doors. Because your home will be cooler than usual while you’re gone, it’s a good idea to open your cabinet doors to allow warm air to reach your pipes to help prevent them from freezing.
- Ask a neighbor to look after your house. Many people ask a neighbor to check on their house and bring in the newspapers and mail while they are gone. You can also ask your neighbor to take a quick look at your thermostat to make sure that your furnace is still running properly.
If you have any questions about this furnace checklist for your winter vacation, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Charles, MO, heating and cooling contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Lake St. Louis, Manchester, and Maryland Heights.
photo credit: Grand Velas Riviera Maya via photopin cc
