6 Things Kentucky Furnace Technicians Wish Homeowners Knew Before the First Cold Night

The first cold night is a bad time to find out your heat isn’t working.

Kentuckians who haven’t thought about their furnace since spring may be due for a few simple checks.

Here’s what furnace technicians would tell you to do before the temperature drops.

Note: This is general safety information, not medical advice or a substitute for an inspection by a licensed HVAC technician. Heating and carbon monoxide guidance is subject to change.

1. The 15-Year Mark

Your furnace has no expiration date, but ENERGY STAR names 15 years as the age to think about replacing it.

Once a furnace passes that mark, consider replacing it with a certified model that is 15% more efficient than a conventional furnace.

Age isn’t the only sign.

Frequent repairs paired with rising energy bills, rooms that run too hot or too cold, and a noisy system point the same way.

Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities (KU) raise the same option in a winter-prep article.

ENERGY STAR models may cost slightly more to buy but end up saving money in the long run.

Check your furnace’s age before the first cold night, not after it quits.

2. The Fall Tune-Up

When should your furnace get its checkup?

ENERGY STAR says the heating system is best checked in the fall, with the cooling system checked in the spring.

A licensed HVAC technician should inspect and tune up a furnace or heat pump to prevent midwinter breakdowns.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health advises having your furnace inspected annually by a professional who confirms it vents properly outside the home.

Late October still counts as fall.

3. Three Feet of Clearance

The United States Fire Administration says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from your furnace.

A yardstick covers the distance.

Store oil, gasoline, paints, propane and varnishes in a shed away from your home.

If your furnace shares a utility room with stacked boxes and paint cans, those need to move.

If your gas furnace has burner access doors, keep them closed so flames can’t escape and start a fire.

4. Clogged Vents and Flues

Your furnace has to vent its exhaust outside, and Columbia Gas of Kentucky says to check once a year that vents and chimneys are free of debris.

Debris can include birds’ nests, leaves and fallen bricks, and a cap should cover the opening.

If you hire a qualified professional, they will also look for rust, cracks or holes in your vent.

Without proper venting, combustion gas can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

5. Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Your furnace is a household source of carbon monoxide if it burns gas or oil, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For 2014 through 2018, the Kentucky Department for Public Health put the yearly average at 16 deaths from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning.

Where you put the alarms matters.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says to install battery-operated alarms, or alarms with battery backup, on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas.

The CDC says to replace a detector following the manufacturer’s instructions or every 5 years, and to check the batteries when you change your clocks each spring and fall.

6. The Monthly Filter Check

ENERGY STAR says to inspect, clean or change the filter in your furnace once a month, so a quick look counts.

LG&E and KU give a monthly schedule too, with the manufacturer’s recommended schedule as the alternative.

Columbia Gas of Kentucky tells you to clean or replace your furnace filter regularly, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Many technicians wish homeowners checked that filter before the first cold night.

Registers and Ducts

Warm air has to reach a room before your furnace can heat it.

LG&E and KU say to keep furniture, rugs and drapes away from supply and return vents so warm air circulates freely.

Check each room.

In a typical house, about 20% to 30% of the air that moves through the duct system is lost, according to ENERGY STAR.

Leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts are to blame.

If you seal ducts yourself, start with mastic sealant or metal tape and insulate all the ducts you can reach.

Never use duct tape, which isn’t long-lasting.

The Rotten-Egg Smell

Many gas furnaces run on natural gas, and Columbia Gas of Kentucky says that if you smell a sulfur or rotten-egg-like odor, you could have a gas leak.

The three steps are to stop what you're doing, leave the area immediately, and call 911 and the utility.

Opening a window is on the list of things not to do.