<h2>November Is Your Last Chance</h2><p>By the time December arrives in Central Texas, HVAC technicians are busy. Cold fronts come through fast, and homeowners who put off their heating checkup find themselves waiting days for a service appointment — in a cold house. November is the sweet spot: temperatures are still mild enough that you can go without heat for a day if needed, and technicians have more availability.</p><p>Here's what to check before winter arrives.</p><h2>Run a Full Heating Cycle</h2><p>Set your thermostat to heat mode and raise the set point until the system kicks on. Let it run for a full 15–20 minutes. You're listening for unusual sounds (banging, squealing, rattling) and checking that warm air is actually coming out of your vents. If the system runs but blows cool air, you likely have a refrigerant issue (on a heat pump) or a problem with the heat exchanger (on a gas furnace).</p><h2>Check All Your Vents</h2><p>Walk through every room and confirm that supply vents are blowing warm air and return vents aren't blocked. Closed or blocked vents create pressure imbalances that reduce efficiency and can damage your system over time. Every vent should be open, even in rooms you don't use often.</p><h2>Inspect the Area Around Your Furnace or Air Handler</h2><p>Make sure there's at least three feet of clearance around your furnace or air handler. Remove any stored items, boxes, or flammable materials from the area. Check that the condensate drain line (the small plastic tube that drains water from the unit) is clear and draining properly.</p><h2>Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors</h2><p>If you have a gas furnace, working carbon monoxide detectors are non-negotiable. Test every detector in your home and replace batteries if needed. CO detectors should be replaced every 5–7 years — check the manufacture date on the back of each unit.</p><h2>Heat Pump Owners: Know the Difference Between Defrost and a Problem</h2><p>Heat pumps periodically go into defrost mode during cold weather — the outdoor unit may appear to be steaming or the system may temporarily blow cool air. This is normal. What's not normal: ice buildup that doesn't clear within 30–60 minutes, the system running constantly without reaching the set temperature, or the outdoor fan not spinning. If you see any of these, call a technician.</p><h2>Consider a Professional Tune-Up</h2><p>A professional heating tune-up covers everything a homeowner can't easily check: refrigerant charge, heat exchanger integrity, electrical connections, blower motor condition, and overall system efficiency. If your system is more than 5 years old or hasn't been serviced in the past year, a tune-up is worth the investment — it can catch small problems before they become expensive repairs.</p><p>Cory Butts Electric & AC is York Certified and serves homeowners across Lampasas, Burnet, Marble Falls, Llano, and the surrounding Hill Country. Call us at 512-556-6818 to schedule your heating checkup before the cold weather hits.</p>