4 Things Hampton Roads Homeowners Should Do Before Turning on the Heat

Hampton Roads winters have a way of sneaking up on you.

One week you’re still running the AC, the next you’re reaching for the thermostat expecting heat — and finding out the hard way that something isn’t right.

Most heating failures aren’t sudden. They’re the result of a system that wasn’t checked before it was needed.

The good news is that a few simple steps before you flip that switch for the first time can tell you exactly where you stand before temperatures drop.

Here are four things homeowners should do now.

1. Test Your Thermostat Before You Need It

This one takes five minutes and can save you from a very cold October night.

Switch your thermostat to heat mode and set it a few degrees above the current room temperature. Wait five to ten minutes. Warm air should start coming out of your vents.

If it does — your system is at least operational. A professional tune-up will still check the components that this test can’t, but you’ll know the basics are working.

If warm air doesn’t come out — or if the system runs without producing warmth — you’ve found a problem that’s much better to address now than when you actually need the heat. Call someone before the heating season gets busy and schedules fill up.

2. Replace Your Filter

A clogged filter is one of the most common reasons a heating system underperforms — and one of the easiest things homeowners should do before turning on the heat.

If you haven’t changed your filter since summer, now is the time. In Hampton Roads, where systems run heavily from May through October and deal with humidity and pollen, filters load up faster than most national recommendations suggest. A filter that might last 90 days in a dry climate may need changing every 30–60 days here.

Pull the filter out and hold it up to the light. If you can’t see through it, it’s time to replace it. A clean filter means better airflow, lower energy bills, and less strain on your system heading into winter.

3. Check Your Vents and Returns

Walk through your home and make sure every supply vent is open and unblocked — not covered by furniture, rugs, or curtains, and not closed off in rooms you don’t use.

Closing vents is a common habit that actually works against your system. Your HVAC is designed to move a specific volume of air. When vents are blocked, pressure builds up in the ductwork, airflow suffers throughout the home, and the system works harder to reach temperature. Leave them open.

While you’re at it, check your return vents — the larger grilles that pull air back to be reconditioned. Make sure nothing is blocking them either. Restricted returns are one of the most common airflow problems we find on fall service calls.

4. Schedule a Professional Tune-Up

The first three steps are things you can do yourself.

This one is for the things you can’t and one homeowners should do before turning on the heat if they have already done the others.

A fall heating tune-up covers the components that determine whether your system is safe and efficient, not just operational. Heat exchanger inspection — a cracked heat exchanger is a safety issue, not just a comfort issue, and can only be checked with professional equipment.

Burner and ignition system verification. Gas connections and pressure. Flue and venting inspection. Electrical connections and capacitors.

September and October are the best months to schedule this — technician availability is better than it will be once temperatures drop and heating calls spike.

If a tune-up reveals something that needs attention, you have time to address it without the pressure of a cold house and a full schedule.

Comfort Technology is booking fall appointments now. We serve Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Williamsburg, and the surrounding Peninsula and Hampton Roads area.

Call us at 757-599-9700 or schedule online at comforttechnologyinc.com.