Fall is here and with it comes many things: pumpkin spice lattes, shopping for Halloween decorations, and the changing of the leaves. And here in Georgia, it marks the transition from hot, humid weather to pleasantly warm autumn days.
This transition from hot to cooler temperatures means you’ll also be making the switch from using your AC to your heating system. But before you switch it on for the first time, there are some things DIY tasks you should complete. Let’s go over 5 easy tasks you can do to make sure your heater is ready for the cooler weather.
1. Change the Air Filter
If changing your heater’s air filter regularly every 1-3 months isn’t already on your list of routine home maintenance tasks, it should be! Your heater’s air filter has a big job to do. It helps keep your heater’s interior free of dust, dirt, and debris. Just like with any well-oiled machine, a heater will run better when its interior is clean.
Ideally, you should change the air filter every 1-3 months when the system is in use. Depending on factors such as if you have pets, the number of people in your household, if you’re in an urban area, and whether anyone in your household suffers from allergies or respiratory illnesses, you should change it more frequently.
2. Schedule Maintenance
Although our heating season is shorter compared to other parts of the country, you still need annual tune-ups for your heating system. The best way to ensure your heater sails through the winter without any hiccups in performance is to schedule heating services with our team. That way, you’ll know your system is in the best possible condition and you can rest assured that you won’t be stuck with a broken-down system on the coldest day of the year.
3. Get Repairs Done
After a maintenance visit, we might’ve made recommendations for repairs. Getting these done promptly is imperative. This prevents small problems from becoming larger and costlier repair problems that could result in a complete heater breakdown if it’s allowed to continue.
4. Clean the Burners
If you own a gas furnace, we’ll check the burners during a tune-up, but it’s also something you can do yourself. Turn the furnace and gas valves off and then wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth, removing any buildup of grease, gunk, or grime that may have accumulated there. This will boost your furnace’s efficiency and help your gas furnace run safely.
5. Clear the Area
Just like the air filter needs unobstructed airflow, so does the area around your heater. If you’ve deposited summer items in the immediate area around your heater, now’s the time to move them elsewhere. Bicycles, outdoor furniture, lawnmowers, camping equipment, boxes, and gardening items need to be moved away from your heating system. It needs a 3-foot perimeter to ensure it has ample airflow.
Contact the team at American Comfort Heating and Cooling to schedule heating services in Winder, GA. Bringing Comfort to America, One Home at a Time.
2026 Update: What to Do Before Turning Your Heat On for the First Time
If this is the first cool morning of the season in Winder, Lawrenceville, Athens or Gainesville, run through this quick checklist before you switch the thermostat to heat:
- Put in a fresh filter. A filter that ran all summer is the most common reason a furnace or heat pump struggles on its first heating cycle.
- Expect a brief dusty smell. Dust that settled on the heat exchanger or heat strips burns off in the first 15 to 30 minutes. A smell that lingers, or any rotten-egg gas smell, means turn the system off and call.
- Test it before you need it. Run the heat for 15 minutes on a mild day. Listen for banging, squealing or short cycling, and check that warm air reaches every room.
- Check your carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries and test every detector if you heat with gas.
- Heat pump owners: clear leaves from around the outdoor unit and make sure the thermostat is not set to emergency heat, which costs far more to run.
The easiest way to cover all of this is a fall heating tune-up. Our NATE-certified technicians clean and test the system, catch small problems before they become no-heat calls, and service both furnaces and heat pumps. See everything we do on our heating services page.
Heat not coming on, or a repair quote that seems high? Call American Comfort Heating and Cooling 24/7 at 678-203-6336. If another company has told you the system needs replacing, ask about our Free Second Opinion on Replacement Quotes before you sign anything.
Common Questions
Is it normal for the heater to smell the first time it runs? Yes, a light burning-dust smell for the first half hour is normal. A smell that lasts longer, smells electrical, or smells like gas is not, and the system should be shut off and checked.
When should I schedule a heating tune-up in Georgia? September through early November, before the first real cold snap, so any repair can be handled before you depend on the heat.
How often should I change the filter during heating season? Check it monthly and replace it every one to three months, more often with pets or during renovations.
