I turned on my Furnace

[daveamkrayoguy]

Yes September 6, 2025 at about 6:05 am, I could not stand the cold of the coming winter’s chill!

Set at a hearty 74° & judging from the acrid odor coming from a usually cooling HVAC, maybe I need to replace the filter…

— Dave

 

[qsd-dan]

Normal to have that dust burning scent on the first go around. Still, not a bad idea to check the filter. I check the filters on a monthly basis.

 

[phillymatt53]

Normal to have that dust burning scent on the first go around. Still, not a bad idea to check the filter. I check the filters on a monthly basis.

Luckily, my home furnace is a hydronic system - hot water to the radiators in the house.
The Crown boiler was installed in 2002 a few years before I moved in, and has been great.
The only barely noticable sound from it when running is the Taco circulation pump.
No filters to worry about.

 

[vacerator]

Good to start it to test before you really need heat. I change or vacuum the 20x16x5" filter and inside the compartments and blower spring and fall. I oil the air intake inducer motor shaft with light oil, and pour a cup of Vinegar and water down the condensate drain. Keep spare batteries on hand for the thermostat.

 

[phillymatt53]

Good to start it to test before you really need heat. I change or vacuum the 20x16x5" filter and inside the compartments and blower spring and fall. I oil the air intake inducer motor shaft with light oil, and pour a cup of Vinegar and water down the condensate drain. Keep spare batteries on hand for the thermostat.

Yes it's always good to confirm proper operation beforehand.
Usually in mid October I'll check and bleed the radiators in to bleed any air out, then give the system a test run.
I also put fresh AA batteries in the thermostat as part of the procedure.
On occasion, I'll pull the burner access panel off and vacuum any dust accumulation - but I rarely see anything down there.
Never any problems so far.

 

[circlew]

I've not turned on any heat, but it's been getting down to the upper 40s to low 50s at night for the last 10 days or so. I was kind of cold a couple nights, so washed my thermal long underwear, and started wearing it. My blanket needs washed, and I've not wanted to take it to the washateria yet.

 

[phillymatt53]

I've not turned on any heat, but it's been getting down to the upper 40s to low 50s at night for the last 10 days or so. I was kind of cold a couple nights, so washed my thermal long underwear, and started wearing it. My blanket needs washed, and I've not wanted to take it to the washateria yet.

washateria?
Waz dat?

 

[vacerator]

Like a Gaseteria, or a Laundromat.

 

[phillymatt53]

Like a Gaseteria, or a Laundromat.

Oh!

 

[pstehle]

Yes September 6, 2025 at about 6:05 am, I could not stand the cold of the coming winter’s chill!

Set at a hearty 74° & judging from the acrid odor coming from a usually cooling HVAC, maybe I need to replace the filter…

— Dave

Where do you live, Anchorage??? (I live in Phoenix, we're still 3 months away from needing heat for part of 3 weeks... it's still over 100 most days!)

 

[Chetlaham]

Luckily, my home furnace is a hydronic system - hot water to the radiators in the house.
The Crown boiler was installed in 2002 a few years before I moved in, and has been great.
The only barely noticable sound from it when running is the Taco circulation pump.
No filters to worry about.

If you really wanted to go hi-tech:


https://www.watts.com/our-story/bra...utdoor-temperature-reset-controls-save-energy

https://www.heat-timer.com/ht_products/hwr-hot-water/

 

[circlew]

washateria?
Waz dat?

You must be a Yankee! It's a name for coin laundry, used mainly in the deep south. My mom always called it that, as she was from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Where do you live, Anchorage??? (I live in Phoenix, we're still 3 months away from needing heat for part of 3 weeks... it's still over 100 most days!)

Well somehow it gets cold here in Michigan and then warm, then it cools off again…

I usually always jog between my heat and A/C so time to get used to doing that again…



— Dave

 

[circlew]

Well somehow it gets cold here in Michigan and then warm, then it cools off again…

I usually always jog between my heat and A/C so time to get used to doing that again…



— Dave

I heard there were snow flurries in the northern part of the state, and lots of areas with frost.

 

[phillymatt53]

If you really wanted to go hi-tech:


https://www.watts.com/our-story/bra...utdoor-temperature-reset-controls-save-energy

https://www.heat-timer.com/ht_products/hwr-hot-water/

Nah, I'm good to go with my system.
I use a newer Honeywell programmable thermostat to tigger the heat, and my gas bills are not too bad in winter.