How to Keep Your Home Furnace at Peak Performance
Your furnace is one of the major units that make your in-house heating system complete. And it's designed to keep the nights warm in winter. That said, maintenance will ensure a smoothly running furnace, affordable utility bills, and none of those really costly breakdowns. To that effect, neglect will come with a couple of side dishes: poor performance, high energy use, and probably a few inherent safety threats. It's worth learning key maintenance for understanding and doing it for most of the year.
Check and replace the air filter
The air filter is one of the most important features of your furnace because it helps keep the dust and debris out of the system and from circulating in your home. With time, this filter gets clogged and restricts the flow of air, thereby making the operation of the furnace quite difficult. This will obviously increase energy consumption and at the same time lower the life expectancy of the system. It is always a good idea to check on the air filter every one to three months and replace it if need be. A clean filter simply means that there is proper air flow and your furnace operates efficiently.
Leave Space Around the Furnace
A furnace needs sufficient air circulation to operate correctly. So, there must be enough space around the unit. Avoid placing boxes, cleaning supplies, or any other flammable material near the furnace. This will allow better performance and reduce the occurrence of fire hazards. Access to the unit is also easier for inspection and a furnace repair if there is open space around the furnace.
Test Your Thermostat for Accuracy
The thermostat is the brain of your heating system, telling the furnace when to kick in and how much. A bad thermostat means a system that can't keep temperatures consistent. Test the thermostat by cranking up the temperature to a set point; if the furnace turns on and off at the set temperature, the thermostat is good to go. If not, it may well be time to get a new one or to update to a programmable or smart one to greatly improve your home's heating schedule.
Inspect and Seal
Leaky ducts render your furnace less efficient and let hot air get lost well before it reaches your living space. Look for gaps, holes, or loose connections in the apparent damage of your ductwork. Invest some time to seal the leaks with either duct tape or mastic sealant. Proper sealing and insulation of the ducts will enable your furnace to work efficiently and distribute the heat around your home evenly.
Cleaning Inside the Furnace
Inside the furnace, particularly the area surrounding the blower and burners, dust and dirt will be gathering up during certain periods of time. This, over time will surely, if not regularly cleaned, affect the operating efficiency of the furnace, as well as create a fire hazard. Now, inside the furnace, is the time to open the access panel for a look inside. Clean the interior with a soft brush or vacuum, especially around the blower motor and the heat exchanger. If it looks especially dirty, you'll want a professional to check out the system for proper, safe operation due to mechanical failure.
Schedule Annual Professional Inspections
While many common furnace problems come to light in regular maintenance checks, it's highly recommended that an annual inspection by a licensed HVAC technician be carried out. The technician can survey the system and test its many different components, along with cleaning various parts of the system that cannot be accessed except with special tools. They will also be able to identify any impending problems early enough to prevent pricey repairs or, worse, failure during the winter season.
Be Aware of Noises or Odors
Noises or fumes emanating from your furnace are typical warning signs of some mechanical malfunction. Such clangs and shrieks may simply be the result of misaligned or damaged parts; such a burning smell may insinuate that there is overheating and dust buildup inside the system. Either should be attended to without significant delay before degradation in that part continues. Smaller signs ignored may result in bigger, more expensive repairs later on.
Well serviced, a furnace will continue to be efficient, last longer, and even purify the air inside your home. Be proactive with the filter change, inside cleaning, and scheduling of professional inspections to have your furnace run glitch-free throughout winter. Consistent warmth, lower energy costs, and peace of mind are provided by a well-maintained furnace to assure you that your home is ready for the cold months ahead.
