10/28/2026
🍂 Fall in Minnesota means cool mornings, cold nights, and the question every homeowner asks: when do I turn on the furnace?
Before you do, try these five ways to keep your home comfortable through the early weeks of fall:
1️⃣ Use your windows. Open curtains and blinds on sunny days to let natural heat in. Close them at night to hold that heat inside.
2️⃣ Light the fireplace. Wood, gas, and electric fireplaces put out between 7,000 and 60,000 BTUs. That's enough to warm a room on a chilly evening without running the furnace.
3️⃣ Run your ceiling fans clockwise. On a low setting, clockwise rotation pushes warm air near the ceiling back down into the room.
4️⃣ Close off unused rooms. Shut the doors to guest rooms and storage spaces so you only heat the rooms you use. Open them back up once the furnace is running for the season.
5️⃣ Check for leaks and insulation. Caulk and weatherstripping around windows and doors stop cold drafts. Insulating exposed pipes helps prevent freezing once temperatures drop. Sealing air leaks and adding insulation can save up to 10% on energy bills.
When you're ready to turn on the heat, make sure your furnace is ready too. A fall inspection catches small problems before the first cold snap.
We can help. Ray N. Welter Heating Company serves Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maple Grove, Chanhassen, and surrounding areas. Call 612-825-6867 to schedule your furnace inspection. We're available 24/7.
