Get your DFW home ready for heating season

01

Identify what heats your home

Record whether each system uses a furnace, a heat pump or another arrangement. If you are unsure, ask during service instead of guessing from the thermostat alone. Note the rooms and thermostat associated with each system. Find the operating manual and the previous service report. Knowing the equipment helps the office understand whether you are requesting routine seasonal care or reporting an active problem that needs diagnosis.

02

Schedule the right kind of visit

If the heat is working and you want seasonal care, request maintenance. If it will not start, stops repeatedly or does not warm the home, describe that problem when requesting a diagnostic. Sharing the actual symptoms helps the office arrange the right visit and explain its price before you approve work. Mention recent repairs and any displayed error message.

03

Review household safety information

CPSC advises maintaining fuel-burning equipment and using carbon-monoxide alarms according to applicable guidance and product instructions. Know what the alarms sound like and what their instructions say to do. If a carbon-monoxide alarm activates or you suspect a dangerous exposure, leave for fresh air and call emergency services. Do not remain inside troubleshooting the heating system or wait for a routine HVAC appointment. Keep emergency action separate from ordinary service planning.

04

Prepare practical information for the technician

List thermostat behavior, unusual sounds and areas that feel different. Check the accessible filter label and note when it was last changed. Clear a safe path to the thermostat and work area, and tell the office about pets or access restrictions. You do not need to remove panels or handle wiring. If a component is inaccessible, describe its location. The technician can explain what must be inspected and what work requires your approval.

05

Ask for a clear explanation of findings

Request a report identifying the equipment checked, findings and recommendations. Ask which issues need immediate action, which require a separately priced repair and which are observations to monitor. If the technician advises leaving equipment off, ask for the reason and the appropriate next step. Keep the report with the home’s records. A useful visit gives you an understandable operating plan, not just a completed appointment on the calendar.

06

Make follow-up easy

Confirm how to contact the office if the original concern returns. For heat-pump systems, ask about the specific controls and backup-heat operation rather than using furnace instructions. Keep the next maintenance reminder with the filter information. For ongoing care, compare Prime Preferred and Preferred + with your current agreement. Preferred + includes one eligible small repair with a full, undiscounted retail total of $300 or less per household per 12-month membership period, confirmed by Prime before work. Prime Preferred + members pay $0 in service-call fees on every visit to their enrolled home. The $69 service-call fee is always waived, whether or not a repair is completed. Repair work beyond the included benefits is quoted separately. An existing signed agreement stays in place unless you agree to a change.

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