7 Furnace Maintenance Tips to Get Ready for Winter

Winter is here in Mesa, AZ—so it’s the perfect time to make sure your furnace is ready to keep your home warm and safe through chilly nights. 

If your furnace hasn’t had its annual maintenance, it may not perform at its best. A dirty or neglected system can struggle to heat your home evenly, raise energy bills, or even break down at the worst possible moment. The good news? A few simple DIY checks, combined with professional furnace maintenance, can help your furnace run safely and efficiently all season. 

Here are seven ways to get your home and HVAC system winter-ready: 

1) Change Your Air Filter 

Your furnace relies on clean air filters to work efficiently and keep your home free from dust, pet dander, pollen, and other airborne particles. When a filter gets clogged, airflow slows, forcing the furnace to work harder and wear out faster. Even worse, some dust can sneak past a dirty filter and settle on internal components or in your ducts, which can reduce efficiency and lead to costly repairs. 

The good news? Maintaining your furnace filter is easy. Disposable filters should be replaced regularly, while reusable filters can be cleaned. Doing this keeps your furnace working well, heats your home evenly, and prevents unnecessary strain. 

For most homes, a standard 1-inch filter should be checked monthly and replaced every 90 days. If you have pets, smokers, or high dust levels near your home, your filter might need to be replaced more frequently to keep your furnace running smoothly all season long. 

Pro tip: If you’re not sure what kind of filter you have or what is best for your furnace, consult our guide “How to Choose the Best Air Filter for Your Home.” You can also ask our expert technicians for recommendations on the right filter for your indoor air quality and the level of filtration you need. 

2) Open Your Vents 

Your HVAC system must both draw air in and push it back out to heat your home effectively. To do both, the system creates a pressure differential throughout your home. The output vents increase indoor air pressure, while the return vents reduce it. 

By closing your indoor floor and ceiling vents, you interrupt the air circulation needed to efficiently heat your home. This creates extra strain on your system, resulting in uneven heating and higher utility bills. Leave all your vents open to promote proper airflow throughout your home. 

3) Reverse Your Ceiling Fans 

In the winter, set your ceiling fans to spin clockwise at a low speed. This pulls cool air up and pushes the warmer air near the ceiling down along the walls and into your living space. 

Doing this helps your home retain heat more efficiently by spreading warmth more evenly across your living space. When your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard, it’s able to save energy—which can help lower your heating bill.  

4) Use Proper Thermostat Settings 

Start by making sure your thermostat is set to “heat” and that the fan is on “auto.” This ensures your furnace only runs when it’s actually needed, which reduces energy use and prevents unnecessary strain on the system. Setting the temperature to your comfort level ensures your home stays cozy without overworking the system. This balance helps your furnace run smarter, not harder. 

5) Adjust Temperatures for Energy Savings 

Using the right temperature ranges can improve efficiency, especially in mild winter climates like Mesa. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs by turning your thermostat back 7°–10°F (for at least 8 hours a day). 

Consider setting your home temperatures within these ranges: 

• When you’re home and awake: 68–70°F is a typically comfortable temperature range. 

• When you’re sleeping or away from home: Dropping the set heating range to 60–65°F can help save energy while keeping the house from getting too cold. 

• Avoid keeping the house excessively warm: Adjusting the thermostat to 70°F+ temperatures can increase energy costs and strain your furnace. 

Smart temperature management like this can save energy while keeping your indoor environment balanced. 

6) Upgrade to a Programmable or Smart Thermostat 

Consider using a smart or programmable thermostat to make your furnace work smarter, not harder. 

A programmable thermostat lets you schedule temperature changes automatically, so your furnace isn’t heating an empty home or running all night. 

A smart thermostat goes further. It learns your routines, avoids heating an empty home, spots inefficiencies, and alerts you to problems before they become costly. That means lower energy bills, fewer surprises, and a more comfortable home—all without lifting a finger. With a smart thermostat, managing your home’s heating becomes effortless and efficient. 

7) Schedule Professional Furnace Maintenance 

Changing furnace filters and checking vents is essential to keeping your furnace running smoothly, but your furnace also faces challenges that DIY care can’t fully handle. 

Over time, dust and debris build up inside the system and ductwork, slowing airflow and making parts work harder. This extra strain, combined with normal wear and tear, can wear out components faster, raise energy costs, and increase the chance of unexpected breakdowns. 

A professional tune-up helps prevent these issues before they turn into costly repairs—so your system is in top condition for the seasons ahead. 

What to Expect During Professional Furnace Maintenance 

When you schedule a furnace tune-up with Chandler Air, our team provides a detailed inspection and maintenance check that boosts system performance and extends your system’s lifespan. 

During your furnace tune-up, our expert technicians will:  

• Clean internal components to remove dust, debris, and buildup that DIY checks can’t reach. 

• Inspect the system for worn parts. 

• Check for safety hazards, such as gas leaks or a cracked heat exchanger that could release dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into your home. 

• Ensure your system operates at its peak efficiency. 

Pairing these professional services with your regular DIY care helps your furnace run safely, efficiently, and reliably for the cold months ahead.  

Stay Cozy with Chandler Air 

Don’t wait for a breakdown to discover your furnace needs attention. A tune-up now can ensure your home has dependable heating when you need it most. At Chandler Air, our expert technicians are ready to help. Enjoy a warm, well-managed home all winter long—call or schedule online today!