Pre-Winter Maintenance Checklist | Right Away Plumbing & HVAC
Do your maintenance now, before winter hits. A planned check gives you time to address leaks, heating faults and drainage problems before a January breakdown adds cold rooms, cleanup and emergency disruption. Repairs in the middle of winter can cost more than routine care now; actual costs depend on what has failed.
Get Ready for Winter
Start with the systems that keep the home warm and dry. Finding a worn component or blocked drain before daily heating and storm runoff can help avoid no-heat emergencies, wasted energy and preventable damage. Maintenance supports reliable operation; it does not guarantee lower bills, a longer lifespan or a trouble-free season.
Furnace tune-up before daily heating
Start with the filter specification, airflow and a normal call for heat. A technician checks the ignition sequence, combustion and venting, safety controls and condensate drainage where fitted. A tune-up is not permission to keep using equipment with a safety fault. Tell us about short cycling, new noises or rooms that stay cold rather than waiting for the first freezing night.
Boiler and furnace tune-up service →Steam and hot-water boiler service
Steam boilers need attention to water level, low-water protection, pressure controls and venting; hot-water boilers need the correct pressure, expansion control and circulation. Their procedures are not interchangeable. Leaks, frequent makeup water and relief-valve discharge should be diagnosed rather than treated as normal seasonal behavior. For radiators that bang or stay cold, note which rooms are affected and when it happens.
Steam and hot-water boiler diagnosis →Navien tankless flushing and freeze protection
Right Away is a certified Navien installer. Review the unit's descaling record, water conditions and model-specific service instructions before winter. Flushing can address mineral buildup, but it does not correct every error code. Built-in freeze protection depends on the exact model and required utilities; connecting pipes and a long power outage need separate planning. Do not open energized equipment or improvise a winter drain-down.
Tankless maintenance and Navien service →Traditional water-heater care
Check for moisture, rust around connections, changed hot-water recovery and an overdue maintenance record. Flushing should follow the manufacturer's instructions and the heater's condition. An old tank with a seized drain valve or existing leak needs an assessment before flushing. Never cap a temperature-and-pressure relief outlet, and leave burner, gas and electrical work to qualified trades.
Traditional water-heater service →Frozen pipes and outdoor hose bibs
Disconnect garden hoses before freezing weather. Identify which outdoor faucets have accessible indoor shutoffs and follow the installed valve's winterization procedure; a frost-free faucet can still freeze with a hose attached or incorrect pitch. Review exposed pipes, air leaks and cold rooms. Locate the main water shutoff and make sure adults in the household know how to reach it. Never use a torch to thaw a pipe.
Frozen-pipe prevention and repair →Sump pump and battery backup check
Test the primary pump using the manufacturer's procedure while the basin and surroundings are safe and dry. Watch the float, pumping and discharge; check alarms and battery-backup condition. A working motor alone does not prove water reaches a safe outlet. Look for a blocked or freezing discharge route. Backup capacity is limited by battery condition and incoming water, so no system should be described as flood-proof.
Sump pump testing and battery backups →Drain cleaning and sewer backup prevention
Recurring slow drains, gurgling and water rising through a floor drain deserve attention before heavy rain or winter thaw. Cleaning removes an obstruction but cannot rebuild a collapsed pipe. A camera review may be appropriate for repeated main-line trouble. Groundwater and sanitary sewer backups require different protection; review backwater devices, accessible cleanouts and discharge routing for the specific property before choosing work.
Drain and sewer cleaning →Carbon monoxide and humidifier safety
Test carbon monoxide alarms and check replacement instructions. Carbon monoxide has no smell. If an alarm sounds, or people experience headache, dizziness, nausea or confusion around fuel-burning equipment, leave for fresh air and call 911 from outside; do not re-enter until cleared. Have a humidifier checked for its specified pad, drain, water leaks and controls. Adjust humidity for weather and window condensation rather than keeping a high setting throughout winter.
Heating service and safety checks →Energy-saving checks without a savings promise
Use the correct clean filter, keep supply and return openings clear, and review thermostat schedules for the installed system. Deep setbacks are not right for every heat pump or building. Have air leaks, duct restrictions and uneven rooms assessed before turning up the thermostat. Maintenance may reduce wasted gas or electricity and support equipment life, but insulation, weather, occupancy, equipment condition and fuel prices affect the result. There is no promised bill reduction.
Heating and cooling planning →Rain Season Protection
Pair the heating visit with a basement-protection review. Pump testing, battery condition, discharge freeze protection, drain cleaning and sewer backup diagnosis address different failure paths. If water is near powered equipment, do not enter or handle it; get qualified help. Report whether water is clear groundwater or appears to be sewage when arranging service.
Read the heavy-rain sewer backup guideWinter and rain-season guides
Pre-winter maintenance across our service areas
From 2093 Rand Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016, we serve these communities, including Hyde Park in Chicago:
Winter maintenance questions
When should I book pre-winter maintenance?
Arrange it before regular cold-weather operation, following the equipment manufacturer's schedule. Report existing faults when booking so the visit can distinguish routine care from a repair.
Is maintenance always cheaper than a January repair?
Not every repair can be avoided. Planned maintenance can find problems before a winter breakdown and may avoid emergency disruption, but the price difference depends on condition, parts and repair scope. No specific savings is guaranteed.
Can one visit cover the boiler, water heater and sump pump?
Tell us which systems are present and what needs attention when you call. We can discuss the practical scope before scheduling; each system still needs its own checks and any specialist work must be coordinated.
Does a battery backup stop sewer backups?
A backup sump pump moves groundwater during a primary-pump problem or power outage within its capacity. It does not automatically stop sanitary sewage coming back through the building drain. Sewer protection needs a separate review.
Does a Navien unit protect all of my pipes from freezing?
No. Model-specific internal freeze protection depends on the manufacturer's operating requirements and does not necessarily protect connecting pipes. Exposed piping and outages need a separate plan.
What should I do if the carbon monoxide alarm sounds?
Get everyone outside into fresh air and call 911 from outside. Do not reset the alarm and stay indoors, and do not re-enter until responders say it is safe.
Plan the visit before freezing weather
Tell us which systems need care and any symptoms you have already noticed. We will discuss the scope before work begins.
Schedule maintenance: (847) 550-3322