Breathe Easy This Fall: The Importance of Furnace Maintenance for Air Quality

By Swordfish Air September 23, 2025

Welcoming fall means savoring everything the season brings - pumpkin-spice lattes, cinnamon-scented baking, cozy candles, and the latest autumn styles. After a busy day, nothing tops curling up under a warm comforter with your favorite hot drink. To maintain this level of comfort in your home, it is essential to perform key preventative measures before the colder weather settles in.

Preventative maintenance inside your home is just as important as maintenance performed on the outside. This includes attention to your furnace system, which ultimately circulates air that you and your family breathe within your home. Furnace maintenance isn’t just about staying warm—it’s about improving efficiency, avoiding costly breakdowns, and protecting the air your family breathes.

The Hidden Link Between Furnace Maintenance and Indoor Air Quality

Your furnace plays a major role in the air that circulates inside your home. Dust, dirt, and allergens can accumulate within the system and spread through the air ducts. Regular maintenance, including filter replacement, will reduce the presence of these contaminants, resulting in cleaner air.

Incorporating air purification systems like UVC lights is another excellent way to boost your home’s air quality. These systems can destroy up to 99.9% of airborne bacteria, viruses, and allergens, ensuring that your indoor air quality is optimized, especially during flu season.

Don’t Let Dirty Furnaces Pollute Your Air This Fall

Your furnace controls the climate in your home, providing a warm and cozy environment in the coming fall and winter months.

Climate control systems often get overlooked for their potential to do more than just heat or cool your home. They continuously move and circulate air throughout every room, making it essential to pay close attention to the quality of the air they deliver.

Many systems stay idle throughout the summer, resulting in dust and debris build-up, and moisture and mold growth. To combat these issues, and to prevent further damage, consider incorporating regular fall furnace maintenance while winterizing your home. Here are a few things to consider.

Fall Furnace Maintenance Checklist:

Change the Air Filter: A clean air filter ensures proper airflow and efficiency. Replace or clean the filter if reusable.
Check Thermostat Settings: Verify that your thermostat is set to your desired temperature. Consider investing in a programmable thermostat for energy savings.
Inspect the Ventilation System: Ensure all vents and ducts are clean and unobstructed for efficient heat distribution.
Test the Furnace: Turn on your furnace and monitor its performance. Listen for unusual noises or odors. If you notice anything unusual, contact a professional technician.
Clean and Lubricate: Clean the furnace's blower and motor. Lubricate moving parts as recommended in your furnace's manual.
Inspect Gas Connections: If you have a gas furnace, check for leaks or loose connections. If you detect any issues, contact a professional immediately.
Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Ensure carbon monoxide detectors are in working order. Replace batteries if necessary.
Schedule Professional Maintenance: Arrange for an annual furnace inspection and maintenance by a licensed HVAC technician. They can identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.
Seal Leaks: Inspect doors and windows for drafts and seal any gaps to prevent heat loss.
Safety First: Always prioritize safety. Install a smoke detector near your furnace and have a fire extinguisher nearby.

By following this checklist, you can rest assured that your furnace is in excellent condition and ready to keep your home warm and your family safe during the fall and winter months. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your furnace but also helps save on energy bills, and improves the air that you and your family breathe. The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) also recommend a thorough maintenance of your entire home (both outside and inside) by following their checklist here. You can also explore Energy Star's Maintenance Checklist.

In addition to tuning your furnace, adding complimentary products to enhance and improve your indoor air quality will help you and your family breathe easier throughout the year, especially through the winter months, keeping viruses and bacteria away.

UVC Air Purification Systems are commonly installed to destroy micro-organisms that are too small to be captured by the furnace filter. Swordfish UVC Whole home Air Purifiers help relieve cold and flu, as well as asthma and allergy symptoms by purifying 99.9% of your indoor air. Remember to check your lamp life as they usually require replacement once a year. The start of fall is a good time as any to check your lamp life as you plan to do your fall furnace maintenance.

Preparing your furnace before winter isn’t just about warmth - it’s about efficiency, safety, and clean indoor air. A few simple steps today can help you avoid expensive repairs, breathe easier, and keep your family comfortable all season long.

Watch our latest Fall Furnace Maintenance Video!