Cleaning Guide

Heating Season in Granite Springs: Clean the Vents First

The first time the heat kicks on, it blows around whatever settled over the summer. Here is how to get ahead of it.

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Cleaner vacuuming a floor heating register near a baseboard in a bright living room
Illustrative image, not a photo of a customer's home.

The short answer

Before you turn on the heat, vacuum floor and wall registers, dust radiators and baseboard heaters, and vacuum the floor around them. Follow your HVAC professional's guidance for filters and ductwork.

Granite Springs is a hamlet in the Town of Somers, set along Route 118 and Route 202, with the Amawalk Reservoir nearby. By early October, mornings get chilly and the thermostat gets its first workout of the season. The familiar first-heat smell is mostly dust that settled on vents, radiators, and heaters over the summer.

Forced-air registers and returns

  1. Vacuum the register face with a brush attachment.
  2. If the cover lifts out easily, wash it in warm soapy water and dry it fully.
  3. Vacuum just inside the opening you can reach.
  4. Do the same for return grilles, which collect the most dust.

Filters and duct cleaning are HVAC tasks. Follow your system's maintenance schedule or your technician's advice.

Radiators

  • Make sure the radiator is cool before cleaning.
  • Use a long, narrow brush to reach between fins or columns.
  • Place a damp towel underneath to catch falling dust.
  • Wipe the outside and the floor under and behind it.

Baseboard heaters

Vacuum along the top and front grille with a brush attachment while the heat is off. Dust trapped in fins is a common source of that first-heat smell.

Around the house

Heating season also means closed windows and drier air. Dust ceiling fans, reverse their direction if your model allows, and vacuum rugs more often. A deep clean in early fall sets up the whole winter.

House cleaning in Granite Springs

We serve homes in Granite Springs and across the Town of Somers. Learn more on our house cleaning page for Granite Springs, NY, or see our Somers winter break guide.

Heating season questions

Why does my house smell when the heat first comes on?

Usually dust that settled on vents, radiators, or heaters over the summer. Cleaning them first reduces the smell.

Do house cleaners clean vents and radiators?

Dusting and vacuuming reachable vent covers and radiator surfaces can be part of a visit. Ask when you request a quote.

Do you clean air ducts?

No. Duct cleaning and filter service are HVAC tasks; contact a qualified HVAC professional.

Is Granite Springs part of Somers?

Yes. Granite Springs is a hamlet in the Town of Somers in Westchester County.