How To Take Proper Care Of A Furnace
For new homeowners, furnace maintenance can be a challenge. However, it doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Always remember that it’s crucial to keep the furnace operating smoothly, which can only be possible with proper care and maintenance.
Depending on the furnace type you have (electric or those that use natural gas), understanding how the system works in keeping your home warm and learning how to provide proper maintenance will surely come in handy. Some heating systems might not require any maintenance, while the standard systems, such as natural gas, require routine inspections and tune-ups to keep them functioning efficiently.
Here are valuable tips on how to provide proper care and maintenance for your furnace. This way, you’ll be able to maintain and improve its efficiency.
Schedule Annual Inspections
Doing routine maintenance on your furnace means not overlooking the need to schedule an inspection from a professional every year to help avoid potential issues. During these inspections, it can help pinpoint trouble signs that only a professional can distinguish. The proper furnace repair and maintenance service will keep your furnace in top shape for years to come.
Inspect The Pilot Light
The pilot light can say a lot about the working condition of your furnace. For instance, the pilot light shows how gas is burning and if the proportion is appropriate or not. Thus, always watch out for the pilot light to prevent undesirable problems along the way.
During your routine inspections, the pilot light should be blue. Once it turns yellow or any other color, it’s not a good sign–it’s an indication that there’s a possible overproduction of carbon monoxide.
Change The Air Filters
If you want your furnace to function optimally at all times, you should change the air filters regularly. Ensuring that the filters are clean is a simple routine that may help lower your monthly utility bills and keep your furnace in good shape.
The air filters have a crucial role in the process of delivering warm air throughout your home. It eliminates particulates from the air such as pollen, dust mites, dust, spores, and bacteria before it travels into the furnace.
Once there’s a disruption in the airflow due to a dirty air filter, the furnace may have insufficient airflow and will no longer operate efficiently. Essentially, change the standard, affordable filters between 30 to 90 days, while the expensive types can last for three months or longer.
Regular Cleaning
Make it a priority to keep the outside of the furnace free of dust and other debris. In most instances, using a damp cloth would suffice. You should also keep the blower assembly clean since it’s the second area where the air goes. If it’s hard to determine the location of the blower assembly, you can check the instruction manual or consult a professional for assistance.
The majority of furnace systems connect to vents. The warm air travels throughout the rooms in your house via these vents. Keeping the vents clean can affect how much effort the furnace has to exert to keep your home warm. If you’re going to clean the vents, pull the vent off and vacuum out the duct.
Remove Flammable Objects Around The Furnace
In most houses, the furnace is in a separate area–usually in the basement, storage room, or crawl space. An important consideration is that storage containers or any other objects shouldn’t surround your furnace.
You shouldn’t place any flammable items such as paint, clothes, gasoline, aerosols, and other household items within the vicinity of your furnace.
Reduce The Heating Load
Once there’s weakness in the structural shell of your home, it allows cold air to seep in while warm air leaks out. Proper sealing of your home will lessen the heat load, which is the amount of air necessary to keep your home at a comfortably warm temperature.
It’s best to work with an HVAC contractor to identify the primary sources of heat loss in your home. A professional will utilize specialized equipment and infrared cameras to identify problem areas and help determine the best places to make improvements. The usual projects include weather stripping the doors and windows, which will add insulation to the attic, and sealing and insulating the ductwork.
Listen For Unusual Noise
Any unusual sound or noise originating from your furnace is a clear sign of a problem. Listening to your furnace is an easy way to check for potential problems and ensure that the furnace is functioning correctly.
Conclusion
Proper care and maintenance will significantly help keep your furnace in optimal condition for years to come. When your furnace is in optimum working order, it can keep your home comfortable at all times, especially during the cold winter season.
