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If you live in North Texas, you know October doesn’t mean much. The pools are still open, the AC is still running, and the only sign of fall is the pumpkin spice everything at the grocery store.

But the change is coming. Every year a cold front rolls through, the temperature drops 30 degrees overnight, and thousands of Dallas homeowners switch on the heat for the first time in eight months. If you heat with a gas furnace, that’s the moment you want to be ready for, and the time to get ready is now, while it’s still warm.

Why the first cold snap is when furnace problems show up

Your furnace mostly sits idle through a Texas summer. It hasn’t burned gas since last winter.

A lot can happen in that time. The gas connection at the unit can loosen. Dust and debris settle on the burners and flame sensor. Flues and vents can get blocked or knocked out of place. Safety switches can fail. None of it shows up until the furnace is asked to run hard, which is exactly what happens the first cold night of the year.

That’s also when every HVAC company in DFW gets slammed with calls. If you wait until something’s wrong, you’re waiting in line with everyone else who waited.

Carbon monoxide: the danger you can’t smell

When a gas furnace burns fuel, it produces carbon monoxide. A healthy furnace sends that CO safely outside through the flue. A furnace with a cracked heat exchanger, a blocked flue or poor combustion can leak it into your living space.

You can’t see CO, smell it or taste it. Early symptoms feel like the flu: headache, dizziness, nausea, fatigue. If everyone in the house feels sick at the same time, and feels better after leaving, take that seriously.

Every home with a gas furnace needs working CO detectors on every level and outside each sleeping area. Test them monthly. Check the manufacture date on the back, since most need replacing every 7 to 10 years.

Why DFW furnaces take a beating

North Texas is hard on heating equipment, even though we only use it a few months a year.

• Attic installs. A lot of DFW furnaces live in the attic, where summer heat bakes wiring, connections and components for months.
• Temperature swings. We can go from 90 degrees to freezing in a week. Metal parts expand and contract every time, and that stress adds up on heat exchangers and fittings.
• Age. As furnaces get older, heat exchangers become more likely to crack. If your system is 15 years or older, a yearly inspection matters even more.

Warning signs your furnace needs attention

Call a professional if you notice any of these:

• A rotten egg or sulfur smell near the furnace
• Burner flames that are yellow, orange or flickering instead of steady blue
• Soot or scorch marks around the furnace
• A burning smell that lasts longer than the first day of the season (a little dust burn-off is normal)
• The furnace turning on and off over and over
• Headaches or flu-like symptoms that ease up when you leave the house

What a furnace safety inspection covers

A fall furnace safety inspection from Aircons is built to catch problems before the heat runs for real. Our technicians will:

• Check the gas valve, shutoff connection and flex connector at your furnace
• Leak-test the gas fittings at the unit and replace a worn connector if needed
• Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks
• Make sure the flue and venting are clear and drafting properly
• Check burners, ignition, flame sensor and flame quality
• Test the safety controls that shut the furnace down if something goes wrong
• Test for carbon monoxide around the equipment
• Clean and tune the furnace so it runs safely and efficiently all winter

You get a straight answer about what we found. If something needs attention, we’ll explain it and give you options. If everything checks out, you head into winter knowing it’s safe.

What about the rest of your gas lines?

Here’s something a lot of homeowners don’t know. Your gas utility is responsible for the lines up to your meter. The piping after the meter, the lines that run through your walls and yard to the furnace, water heater, stove, dryer or grill, belongs to you.

In Texas, inspecting and repairing that house piping is a job for a licensed plumber. Our work covers your furnace and its gas connection. If we see anything during your inspection that points to a bigger gas line issue, we’ll tell you plainly and point you to a licensed plumber.

What to do if you smell gas

If you smell gas inside your home, don’t troubleshoot. Act.

1. Get everyone out of the house, including pets.
2. Don’t flip light switches, unplug anything, use your phone inside, or start a car in an attached garage. A tiny spark can ignite gas.
3. Leave doors open on your way out if you can do it quickly.
4. Once you’re a safe distance away, call 911 and your gas utility’s emergency line.
5. Don’t go back inside until emergency crews say it’s safe.

Once the utility makes the situation safe, have a licensed professional fix the problem before you turn anything back on.

Don’t wait for the first freeze

Right now it’s 85 degrees and heat is the last thing on your mind. That’s exactly why now is the right time. Our schedule has room, there’s no emergency, and you can book a time that works for you instead of scrambling the night the temperature drops.

If you heat with gas, take care of it this month. Schedule your furnace safety inspection at airconsdallas.com or call Aircons at [PHONE]. One visit, and your family heads into the cooler days ahead safe and warm.