Wisconsin Furnace and Boiler Winter Preparation Checklist

Why start preparing before the heating season?

A fall check gives you time to locate the equipment manual, gather service records, and discuss problems you noticed last winter. That might be a bedroom that never felt comfortable, a system that stopped unexpectedly, or a thermostat setting that no longer matched the room temperature.

ENERGY STAR recommends annual preseason professional checkups, with heating maintenance in the fall. Ask what the visit includes for your particular equipment. ENERGY STAR heating and cooling guidance.

Maintenance does not guarantee a winter without repairs. It gives you a chance to address known concerns and understand the next steps before a loss of heat becomes disruptive.

Do you have a furnace or a boiler?

A forced-air furnace warms air and moves it through ducts to the rooms in your home. A hot-water boiler heats water that circulates through a distribution system, such as radiators or hydronic baseboards. AHRI furnace overview, AHRI boiler overview.

Hydronic radiant heating uses heated water distributed through tubing. However, some floor and baseboard systems are electric, so appearance alone does not confirm that you have a boiler. Check the equipment label or ask a professional. AHRI hydronic heating overview.

Build your winter preparation checklist

Choose Furnace, Boiler / hydronic heat, Both, or I’m not sure in the checklist below. Mark the preparation tasks you have completed, then print your remaining tasks to keep with your service records.

Your progress reflects tasks completed. It does not certify that your equipment is safe, diagnose a problem, or replace professional maintenance.

Furnace winter preparation: what to check

1. Review the air filter

Check the filter according to your equipment instructions. ENERGY STAR recommends inspecting filters monthly and cleaning or replacing them when appropriate. Use the type, size, and installation direction specified for your system; ask your technician if you are unsure. ENERGY STAR maintenance checklist.

Record the filter size and the date you checked it. Keep that information with the manual so the next inspection does not begin with another search for the correct product.

2. Look around the furnace and registers

Keep stored materials away from the furnace and preserve the clearance required by its manufacturer. Check whether furniture or other belongings obstruct supply or return registers. Do not cover ventilation openings or alter vent piping. AHRI gas furnace safety guidance.

If access to your equipment is difficult, mention that when arranging service. A photograph of the surrounding area can help explain the situation without opening the appliance.

3. Review the thermostat and last winter’s concerns

Confirm that you understand the thermostat’s heating mode, schedule, and battery requirements. Follow its manual. Write down any rooms that were consistently uncomfortable and whether the problem occurred all day or at particular times.

For example, “the upstairs bedroom stayed cold while the living room warmed up” is more useful than “the furnace seems weak.” Specific observations help define the service request without guessing which part needs replacement.

4. Arrange a professional equipment check

A heating professional can evaluate controls and equipment operation. For fuel-burning furnaces, appropriate service can include checking combustion, fuel connections, and the heat exchanger. These are professional tasks. ENERGY STAR maintenance checklist.

If the system fails to start or repeatedly stops, request service instead of repeatedly resetting it. Leave internal covers, wiring, fuel adjustments, and safety controls to a qualified technician.

Boiler winter preparation: what to check

1. Identify the equipment and heated areas

Find the boiler’s make and model, then note which thermostats control which rooms. If the system also supplies household hot water, include that information in your service request. Some combination boilers provide both space heating and domestic hot water. AHRI boiler overview.

You do not need to trace every pipe. A simple list—main floor, upstairs, garage—can make the conversation easier.

2. Record visible concerns without attempting repairs

From a safe, dry position, note visible water around the boiler or accessible piping, corrosion, and any displayed error message. Record where you saw the issue and when it began. Keep away from hot surfaces and water near electrical equipment.

Do not open hot piping, operate a relief valve, add chemicals, or change pressure settings using a general online checklist. Boiler instructions depend on the particular equipment and installation. Give your observations to the service professional and follow the equipment manual.

3. Describe uneven heating by room or zone

If one area remains cold, list the affected rooms and the relevant thermostat settings. Explain whether the issue is new or has continued from an earlier season.

Avoid deciding in advance that the boiler itself must be replaced. The useful starting point is what you observed; the service visit should establish the cause and appropriate work.

4. Ask for a maintenance scope that matches your system

Tell the contractor whether you have radiators, hydronic baseboards, radiant floors, or a combination. Ask what they will inspect, what the quoted work covers, and whether any equipment-specific maintenance is due.

For boiler maintenance and furnace service in Eau Claire and Western Wisconsin, contact Gunderson with your equipment details and questions.

When should you request help?

Use the following distinction when planning your next step. It is not a diagnosis.

Emergency warning signs take priority over an appointment request. Never wait for a website form response in an immediate emergency. For suspected gas or CO incidents, remain outside until responders say it is safe to return. CPSC CO information, Xcel Energy gas safety guidance.

Make the service visit more useful

Before contacting a contractor, collect these details:

• Equipment make and model, if accessible.
• The date of the last service visit, or a note that it is unknown.
• What changed and when you first noticed it.
• Which rooms or heating zones are affected.
• Any error message you can read safely.
• Whether you want maintenance, help with a problem, or replacement planning.

Keep the request specific. “We want a fall maintenance visit and help with an upstairs heating problem” gives the team a clearer starting point than a general request to check everything.

Ask for an explanation of the findings and any recommended work before approving repairs. Keep the service report with your checklist for next season.

Is the concern heating or plumbing?

A cold room and a leaking faucet call for different questions, even when one company handles both services. Describe the affected system when reaching out.

If you are also seeing leaking pipes, recurring drain problems, or other household plumbing concerns, visit Gunderson’s plumbing services for Eau Claire. Giving the team both sets of concerns helps clarify what assistance to request.

Frequently asked questions