ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Late October in Asheville and Western North Carolina can bring warm afternoons and chilly mornings. With daytime temperatures still comfortable, turning on the heat may not be a priority just yet. But cooler mornings are a reminder that winter isn’t far away.

At MB HAYNES, we encourage homeowners to use this time to check on their heating systems before they need them every day.

Here are five things worth checking before colder weather settles in.

1. Give your heating system a test run

You don’t have to wait for the first freezing morning to find out whether your heat works.

Choose a cooler morning to turn on your heating system and make sure it starts and produces warm air as expected. Depending on your equipment, it may take a few minutes to begin delivering heat.

If the system doesn’t start, struggles to reach the thermostat setting or shuts off unexpectedly, it may need professional attention.

2. Pay attention to unusual smells or sounds

If your heating system hasn’t run in several months, you may notice a brief dusty smell when it first starts. This can happen as accumulated dust warms up.

However, persistent burning odors, unusual electrical smells or new noises such as grinding, banging or squealing shouldn’t be ignored.

If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, leave the area immediately and contact your gas utility or emergency services from a safe location.

3. Check your air filter and vents

Good airflow is important whether your HVAC system is cooling your home in September or heating it in January.

Check your air filter and replace it if needed, following the recommendations for your equipment and filter type.

Walk through your home and make sure supply and return vents aren’t blocked by furniture, rugs or other objects. Restricted airflow can affect comfort and system performance.

4. Make sure your thermostat is working properly

As temperatures begin to fluctuate between warmer afternoons and cooler nights, your thermostat becomes especially important.

Check that it’s responding to your settings and that your heating system turns on when needed.

If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, review your schedule to make sure it still fits your household’s routine.

If the thermostat isn’t communicating properly with your equipment or temperatures don’t seem to match the settings, an HVAC technician can help determine what’s happening.

5. Think back to last winter

You don’t have to wait for a heating problem to happen again before addressing it.

Did your system struggle to keep certain rooms warm last winter? Were your energy bills unusually high? Did you notice strange noises, frequent cycling or recurring repairs?

Those are all useful observations to share with an HVAC professional.

The cause may involve airflow, ductwork, equipment performance or other factors. A professional evaluation can help determine whether maintenance, repair or replacement is appropriate.

Prepare now with MB HAYNES’ October specials

Even if you’re still enjoying warm afternoons, late October is a good opportunity to prepare for the colder weeks ahead.

At MB HAYNES, we help Asheville and Western North Carolina homeowners maintain, repair and replace residential heating and cooling equipment, including heat pumps, furnaces and other HVAC systems.

We’re also offering several Heating & Cooling specials through October 31, 2026, including:

• Preventative maintenance for $159 plus tax for one heat-pump system. The plan includes two preventative maintenance visits per year, a 15% discount on repairs, priority scheduling and other benefits. Pricing varies depending on the number and type of systems.
• A free HVAC efficiency audit to help homeowners take a closer look at their system’s performance.
• 36 months at 0% financing on a new HVAC system, with a 10-year warranty, subject to offer conditions.

Additional specials are available for duct cleaning and warranty coverage. Restrictions apply, and certain offers cannot be combined.

You may not need to run your heat every day just yet, but checking your system now can help you head into winter with greater confidence.

Visit our Heating & Cooling specials page to review current offers and conditions, or contact MB HAYNES to learn more about our residential HVAC services.