It's summer. It's warm and sunny outside, and naturally, the last thing on your mind is your home's heating system. And yet, if you are proactive about caring for your heating system right now, it will be better prepared for the heating season to come. Here are some maintenance services and improvements you can have performed on your heating system while it's warm out.

Have the furnace's burner cleaned.

A furnace's burner tends to accumulate dirt and dust over time. This is especially likely to occur if you don't change the furnace filter as often as you should, which is unfortunately a common error. If you have the furnace's burner cleaned, your system will run more efficiently next winter, and you also won't get that nasty, scorched burning odor when you first turn the system on.

Have the ducts cleaned.

It's also a good idea to have your ducts cleaned. Summer is the ideal time for this since any dust and dirt have had time to settle to the bottom of the ducts as they have not been used. Duct cleaning not only helps keep your home clean, but it also protects your furnace and can extend its lifespan. If you're someone who suffers from allergies, you should notice a marked decrease in symptoms after you have your ducts cleaned.

Have the vents sealed.

While your heating contractor is cleaning the ducts, also have them check for any gaps or leaks. You can lose a remarkable amount of heated air through a small gap in the ducts! By having the ducts sealed, you will save a lot of energy, and you'll also ensure adequate airflow through all of your vents. You should no longer have one room that's colder than all the others.

Change the thermostat batteries.

Take a minute to change the thermostat batteries. You can do this yourself by simply popping the thermostat off the wall and slipping some new batteries into it. This way, you won't find yourself without heat this coming winter because the batteries died. A set of thermostat batteries should last at least a year under normal conditions, so remind yourself to change them again next summer.

Even though it is summer, you can benefit from putting some thought and time into your heating system. Start with the services above, and see if your heating contractor has any other recommendations after they look your system over.