September has here, and with it comes a reduction in temperature. Even on mild days, there is a sensation of autumn in the air; the warmth of summer has left and been replaced by a crispness. The arrival of autumn signals that it is time to dig out your coziest blanket, turn on the television to watch a football game, warm up some apple cider, and turn on your heating system. Yes, you should give your furnace a test run right now, before the weather becomes too cold for it to be useful. Your firm that provides furnace maintenance in Douglasville will be inundated with requests for urgent repairs throughout the month of October. Start getting ahead of the game by turning on your furnace now to ensure that it is prepared for the upcoming cold weather. You are in no way required to keep it running, however you should make sure to verify the following after turning it on: Check to see whether your thermostat is operating properly. When the furnace turns on and begins to blow out warm air, take close attention to the odor that fills the room. As dust accumulates in the ducts during the course of the summer, it is natural to notice a faint burning smell; however, this odor should go away rather fast. If the odor continues to be present, you may want to consider having your furnace serviced or replacing the air filters in your home. If you smell smoke, call 911 immediately. Pay attention to the way your heater is operating. Is it making an effort? Do the walls seem to be vibrating to you at all? In most cases, these are indications that your furnace need maintenance. Check the readings on your carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that your heater is not creating anything that may be considered hazardous to your health. Check all of your doors and windows to see if any of them have developed any cracks or leaks throughout the summer. You don’t want any of the heat to be lost to the outside, nor do you want your furnace to have to work any more than it has to. Do not put off doing this assignment for even a single more day. This month, be sure to include furnace maintenance in Douglasville on your list of things to accomplish. You will be thankful that you spent the time and effort now to have your system working in peak condition before the temperatures begin to plummet.