Furnace Maintenance Tips

Follow these simple steps to keep your furnace in good working order to save money and increase the efficiency of your heating system.

Ensure All Vents Are Working

The air in your home must flow continuously throughout the heating system in order for it to perform effectively. That would suggest that your furnace is working properly. It also implies that your vents are clean and functional. Are all of your home’s vents open, set to enable free airflow, and clear of furniture, boxes, or other household items that could obstruct the path? Closing or obstructing a vent can make the furnace work harder and less effectively, eventually causing it to break down

Clean or Replace Your Filter

The filter in your furnace plays an important role in the process of providing warm air throughout your home. A furnace filter is installed where the return duct enters your furnace. It filters particles from the air before it enters the furnace and is heated. A furnace filter removes all types of particles, like dust, dust mites, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, spores, and other contaminants.

Basic protection is provided by inexpensive filters. They are intended to capture a high percentage of the particles that circulate through your house. Expensive air filters provide better air quality, which is great for people who suffer from allergies or asthma.

If the airflow is blocked by a dirty air filter, the furnace will have insufficient airflow and will not perform as smoothly as it was supposed to. Inexpensive air filters should be replaced every 30 to 90 days. Depending on the quality of your furnace, more expensive disposable pleated air filters may last three months or longer. 

Check That The Blower Motor Is Working Properly

The furnace blower motor powers the fan, which circulates air through the furnace. The heating element of a furnace warms the heat exchanger until it reaches the desired temperature, at which point the blower motor pushes air through the heat exchanger. This heats and distributes the air throughout the house. 

Most furnace blowers, in addition to producing air for the furnace, also supply air for the air conditioning system.There is also an air filter in the furnace blower. The blower motor contains several operating components that, if not properly maintained, might begin to malfunction. 

A loud furnace blower may signal a problem with the electric motor or the blower wheel.  High, shrill noises might indicate that two metal surfaces are grinding against one other. It might be caused by the blower wheel becoming detached from the shaft of the blower motor & scratching the internal housing. A loud buzzing sound is usually indicative of an electrical issue. A professional technician can help you in identifying the source and take preventive actions before the equipment deteriorates.

Reduce Your Home’s Heating Load

Any defect in your home’s structural shell lets cold winter air enter and warm air to escape. Sealing up your home’s envelope decreases heat load, or the amount of heat required to keep your house warm. 

An HVAC professional may do a home energy audit to establish where your house’s weaknesses are in order to discover major causes of heating loss within your house. A heating specialist can assess where your home has the most issues and assist you in determining the ideal areas to make adjustments by using special equipment and infrared cameras.

Check That The Exhaust Flue To The Exterior Of A Gas Furnace Is Unobstructed

Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide are the three primary reasons an exhaust flue needs frequent maintenance. These three elements can be found in your furnace’s fumes. 

Problems arise instantly if the exhaust flue is obstructed. This prevents air from easily moving from inside the system to outside your home. It can also cause severe negative health effects like headaches, nausea, feeling dizzy, fatigue, heart palpitations, and more. If you suspect a problem, call a professional right away to have it checked.

Remove All Combustible Materials Around Your Furnace

Your furnace is normally installed separately, like the basement, crawl space, or storage room. Your furnace, though, isn’t designed to function with storage containers placed around it. Anything combustible, such as clothing, paint, aerosols, gasoline, cartons, and other household objects, should never be near your furnace or water heater.

Clean Your Heating Systems Vents And Ductwork

To keep the heating and cooling system in excellent working condition, it must be cleaned and serviced on a regular basis, just like any other system. At the start of each season, take a walk around. Is it possible to get to all of the vents? Is there any dirt, pet hair, dust, or paper scraps in the floor registers? 

Anything that gets inside the vents might make its way down into the ductwork, reducing efficiency. Remove the floor registers and sweep up any messes that may have occurred near them. Also, consider getting the ductwork cleaned, especially if the house was renovated or if it’s been a long time since it was cleaned.

It doesn’t take much time or effort to keep your furnace in good condition. Let our professionals change your furnace filter as part of our home maintenance service. Give HomeSmiles a call for your furnace maintenance and other maintenance your home badly needs.