In Treasure Valley, winter chill can arrive suddenly. One week you’re enjoying crisp fall afternoons and the surprising late-season heat wave, and the next, you’re waking up to cold toes and even colder kitchen tiles.
Your furnace is about to become your star player this season, but even MVPs need a pre-game warm-up. To carry your comfort to victory, it needs to run reliably and efficiently. With some fall maintenance, your system can perform at its best this winter to keep your family safe and warm.
Here are four simple plays to prepare your furnace for the months ahead:
1. Gear Up: Swap the Air Filter Regularly
Did you know your furnace needs a clean air filter to stay in peak performance? Over time, dust, pet hair, and even smoke from summer wildfires can clog the filter, restricting airflow. When air can’t move freely, your furnace works harder, wastes energy, and wears down faster.
Choose the filter that fits your game plan. MERV ratings are a system that measures a filter’s ability to capture airborne particles, while the type of filter you choose determines how well your furnace runs and how clean the air is throughout your home. For example, basic fiberglass filters with a lower MERV rating can protect your HVAC system, while pleated filters with higher MERV ratings can catch smaller particles, improving indoor air quality throughout your home.
Timing tip: In most Boise homes, a standard 1-inch filter should be checked every 30–90 days to see if it needs to be replaced. Homes with pets, allergies, or heavy foot traffic may need a monthly swap. After a particularly smoky or dusty week, check it right away so your furnace can be fully game-ready.
2. Pass the Warmth: Free Up Airflow
Closing vents in unused rooms might feel like a clever move to trap heat, but it’s like benching your best players when the game is on the line. Blocking airflow creates pressure in the ducts, resulting in uneven heating and cold spots throughout your home.
Instead, keep at least 80–90% of your vents open and clear any furniture, rugs, or clutter that might block airflow. Make sure nothing is covering or leaning against the vents so warm air can circulate freely. When your furnace isn’t fighting restricted airflow, it can deliver even warmth to every corner of your home.
3. Call the Plays: Automate Your Thermostat
Your thermostat is your playbook—and testing it now means you’re calling the right plays for your home. Switch from cooling to heating mode, set the fan to “auto,” and adjust the temperature to your winter settings to make sure it is functioning properly.
Smart or programmable thermostats take this further—they learn your schedule, adjust automatically, and even lower the heat while you’re away. In other words, your furnace executes the perfect game plan without extra effort, optimizing comfort and efficiency all season long.
4. Bring in the Trainer: Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up
After a summer on the sidelines, your furnace may have collected dust and debris. The wear and tear that follows can hide serious issues, like a cracked heat exchanger—which could steadily leak dangerous carbon monoxide into your home.
Think of a professional tune-up as your furnace’s athletic conditioning session. Technicians clean, inspect, and fine-tune key parts so your system runs at peak performance. This includes checking for hidden dangers, like a cracked heat exchanger that could leak carbon monoxide.
The payoff? Improved efficiency (up to 30% according to the U.S. Department of Energy), lower utility bills, fewer unexpected breakdowns, and a safer, more reliable furnace all winter.
Kickoff Comfort with Fall Furnace Maintenance
For Treasure Valley homes, October is like the opening stretch of the season: the weather is cooling, and it’s the perfect time to line up your furnace for action. Here’s why:
- Nights are getting colder, but winter hasn’t fully set in yet.
- Technicians have more availability before peak heating demand.
- You’ll be ready before the holidays, when the last thing you want is a heating emergency.
A furnace tune-up now ensures your system is ready for the months ahead, so you can head into winter worry-free.
Trust Magic for Your Furnace Tune-Up
Keep your furnace in the game this fall. At Magic Electric, Plumbing, Heating + Air, our expert technicians know Boise and Treasure Valley homes inside and out. We handle the tough plays—from vents and smart thermostat installation to annual tune-ups—so your furnace stays in championship form.
Don’t wait for the first cold snap to sideline your star player. Call Magic today to book your furnace tune-up and score a win for your home!