If you're a homeowner near Lynn Creek Park or elsewhere in Crowley, this guide walks through what we cover with Crowley customers on this exact topic, based on the calls we take throughout Tarrant County.
North Texas winters are mild more often than not, which is exactly why heating systems here can go months at a time without running at all. A furnace that's been idle since last winter is more likely to have a problem you don't know about yet, and the worst time to find out is during an actual cold snap or freeze event.
Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 was an extreme example, but it made the point clearly: when North Texas does get hit with serious winter weather, heating systems across the region get pushed harder than they're used to, and the ones that hadn't been maintained were far more likely to fail exactly when they were needed most.
Test your system before you need it
The simplest thing you can do is turn your heat on and let it run for a while before the first genuinely cold night of the season, not during it. This gives you time to notice problems, a burning smell, uneven heat, strange noises, while you still have time to schedule a repair instead of discovering the issue at 2 a.m. during a freeze.
Have the system professionally inspected
A seasonal heating tune-up checks ignition components, the heat exchanger, gas connections, and airflow, the kinds of things that are hard to evaluate yourself but are exactly where problems tend to develop after months of disuse. This is also a safety issue, not just a comfort one, since heat exchanger problems can potentially allow combustion byproducts into your home's air.
Know the signs of a problem
A few signs are worth acting on quickly rather than waiting out.
- The furnace won't ignite, or takes several attempts to start
- Cold air blowing from vents when heat is running
- A burning smell that persists beyond the first few minutes of the season's first use
- Unusual noises, banging, rattling, or squealing
- Higher gas or electric bills without a clear explanation
Simple steps that help beyond the furnace itself
A few additional steps can help protect your home during an actual freeze event, separate from the furnace itself.
- Let faucets drip during a hard freeze to reduce the risk of frozen, burst pipes
- Know where your home's main water shutoff is located, in case a pipe does burst
- Keep the thermostat at a consistent temperature rather than turning heat off entirely while away
- Check that outdoor vents and intakes for the furnace aren't blocked by debris
If you smell gas
If you ever smell gas near your furnace, turn off the system, leave the area, and contact your gas utility or emergency services immediately. Address that safety concern first, before calling us or any HVAC company for a repair.
Getting ahead of it
If it's been a while since your heating system was checked, or you noticed an issue last winter you never got around to addressing, now is a better time to deal with it than during the next cold front. Call us at 817-935-8540 or request a seasonal tune-up before winter weather actually arrives.
For Crowley Homeowners
We service homes throughout Crowley, from those near Bicentennial Park to neighborhoods further out, and this topic comes up regularly regardless of which part of Crowley ISD a home falls in. The fundamentals don't change by zip code, but knowing the local housing stock helps us know what to expect before we even arrive.
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