Minnesota falls are beautiful, but they can be unpredictable. One day you’re enjoying crisp 60-degree weather, and the next morning you wake up to frost on the windshield. This wild temperature swing catches a lot of homeowners off guard—and their heating systems too.
We see it every year at Ideal Air. Temperatures start dipping at night, and suddenly the phone starts ringing off the hook. Folks flip on their heat for the first time in months only to discover their furnace won’t fire up, or worse, it’s making strange noises they’ve never heard before.
Here’s the thing: most of these emergency calls could have been prevented. Your furnace has been sitting idle all summer, and just like a car that’s been parked for months, it needs a little attention before you ask it to work hard again.
Start with the basics – change your filter
Before the first cold snap hits, change your air filter. This is something anyone can do in about five minutes. A clogged filter from last winter forces your furnace to work harder than it should, which means higher energy bills and more wear on the system. If you have pets or a lot of dust in your home, you might want to check it monthly during heating season.
Take a walk around your outdoor unit if you have a heat pump. Clear away any leaves, branches, or debris that accumulated over the summer. Good airflow matters more than most people realize.
Listen to your heating system
When you turn on your heat for the first time, pay attention. Yes, there might be some dust burning off—that’s normal and should clear up quickly. But if you hear banging, squeaking, or grinding, that’s your furnace telling you something’s wrong. Don’t ignore it and hope it goes away. Small problems in October can turn into emergency heating repairs in January.
Schedule a furnace tune-up before you need it
The best time to call for furnace maintenance is before everyone else realizes they need it too. Late September or late October is perfect timing in our area. A technician can spot issues before they become breakdowns—loose electrical connections, worn belts, dirty burners, or failing components.
During a tune-up, we’re looking at things you can’t easily check yourself: the heat exchanger for cracks, gas pressure, ignition system, and overall efficiency. We’ll also clean components that accumulate dust and buildup, which helps your system run more efficiently all winter long.
The cost of waiting on maintneance for your heating system
Emergency service calls cost more than scheduled maintenance—that’s true everywhere. But beyond the service call fee, there’s the reality of being without heat when it’s 15 degrees outside and every HVAC company in the area is booked solid. Some of our customers have learned this lesson the hard way.
Minnesota winters are no joke. Taking an hour now to prepare your heating system can save you from shivering through a cold night waiting for repairs. At Ideal Air, we’d much rather help you prevent problems than respond to emergencies, though we’re here either way.
Don’t wait until that first freezing morning catches you unprepared. Give your heating system the attention it needs now, and you’ll stay comfortable all season long. Schedule your furnace tune-up today and get the peace of mind you deserve!
