SEPTEMBER HOME CARE GUIDE
Prepare Your Heating System and Fireplace Before Cold Weather Arrives
September’s mild days make this an ideal time to prepare your home for the heating season—before the first cold snap creates a rush for service appointments. In a neighborhood of approximately 30-year-old homes, even systems that have been updated deserve regular attention, while original or aging components may warrant a closer professional assessment.
Your September Home Care Checklist
Schedule a professional heating-system inspection
If your furnace, boiler, heat pump, or other heating equipment has not been serviced within the past year, schedule an inspection with a qualified technician. Ask the technician to check the system’s operation, safety controls, electrical connections, venting, and signs of wear or corrosion.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends having home heating systems—including chimneys and vents—professionally inspected and serviced every year.
Check your furnace filter
Locate the filter and inspect it for dirt and dust. Replace or clean it according to the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.
A dirty filter restricts airflow, makes the system work harder, and may increase energy costs or contribute to premature equipment problems. ENERGY STAR recommends checking filters monthly during periods of heavy use and replacing or cleaning them when dirty.
Helpful tip: Write the replacement date on the filter frame or set a recurring reminder on your phone.
Give your heating system room to work
Make sure furniture, rugs, boxes, and curtains are not blocking heat registers, cold-air returns, radiators, or baseboard heating units. Keep combustible materials away from the furnace, boiler, fireplace, and other heat-producing equipment.
Also check the area around exterior furnace and water-heater vents. They should remain free of leaves, nests, vegetation, snow, and other obstructions.
Have the fireplace and chimney inspected
Before using a wood-burning or gas fireplace, arrange for an appropriate professional inspection—particularly if it has not been inspected recently or you are uncertain about its condition.
A qualified professional can look for creosote accumulation, blockages, cracks, deterioration, loose connections, venting problems, or animal nests. Chimneys and fireplaces should be cleaned when the inspection indicates it is necessary.
Do not assume a fireplace is safe simply because it worked properly last winter.
Test smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms
Test every smoke alarm and carbon-monoxide alarm in the home. Replace batteries or expired alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and confirm that alarms are installed in appropriate locations.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends carbon-monoxide alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, which makes working alarms especially important in homes with fuel-burning equipment.
Look and listen for warning signs
Contact a qualified service professional if you notice:
• Unusual furnace noises or odors
• Soot, rust, scorching, or moisture near heating equipment
• Frequent cycling or difficulty maintaining temperature
• A yellow or irregular burner flame where the manufacturer indicates it should be blue
• New cracks or deterioration around the fireplace or chimney
• Stains or debris near vents or flue connections
• A carbon-monoxide alarm sounding
If a carbon-monoxide alarm sounds or anyone experiences possible exposure symptoms, leave the home, call 911 from outside, and follow emergency instructions. Do not re-enter until authorities say it is safe.
A Special Consideration for 30-Year-Old Homes
Many Briar Hill homes may have heating, venting, chimney, or fireplace components that are original—or systems that were replaced at different times by different owners. Age alone does not determine whether equipment is unsafe or must be replaced. It does, however, make documentation and professional evaluation increasingly valuable.
This month, consider starting a simple home systems record containing:
• Approximate installation dates
• Model and serial numbers
• Inspection and service receipts
• Filter sizes and replacement dates
• Repair history
• Warranty information
• Expected planning windows for major replacements
This record can help you maintain the home wisely, budget for future needs, and provide useful information when the property is eventually sold.
Protecting Comfort, Safety, and Value
Preventive maintenance may not be the most exciting home improvement, but it can help identify small concerns before they become inconvenient or expensive problems. Well-maintained systems and organized service records can also give future buyers greater confidence in the care a home has received.
Need a Local Recommendation?
As longtime Briar Hill residents and REALTORS® with Real Estate One, Brian and Mary Bundesen are happy to help neighbors locate local service professionals or discuss which repairs and improvements may matter most to future resale value.
Brian Bundesen, REALTOR®
The Bundesen Team | Real Estate One
Call or text: (734) 678-9032
Twice the Service, Double the Commitment.
Safety note: This guide provides general homeowner information and is not a substitute for an inspection, diagnosis, or repair by a qualified professional. Always follow your equipment manufacturer’s instructions and applicable safety requirements.
Sources: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Fire Protection Association, and ENERGY STAR.
The core recommendations are supported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Fire Protection Association, and ENERGY STAR maintenance guidance.