Properly maintaining your furnace is key to avoiding common furnace malfunctions throughout the unit's lifetime. Luckily, your furnace's most basic maintenance needs are simple tasks that when performed on a regular basis can prolong your unit's life and save you money. The maintenance tips provided below will help ensure your furnace runs smoothly all season long.
Call a Heating Expert
The most important and beneficial maintenance step you can take is calling an experienced heating technician to schedule your furnace's yearly tune-up. During a tune-up, a technician inspects your furnace for faulty parts and cleans the unit for optimal efficiency. Skipping a tune-up for even one year can lead to higher energy bills and a possible furnace breakdown.
Replace the Air Filter
If a tune-up is number one on your furnace maintenance list, replacing the air filter on a consistent basis should be listed as number 2. Your unit's air filter performs an essential job, which is stopping dust, hair, and other types of debris from clogging your furnace. If you don't change the filter, the debris it catches will eventually block the unit’s airflow, meaning your furnace will need to work harder to heat your home. Unfortunately, this places a large amount of stress on the mechanical parts that operate your unit, which will ultimately lead to your furnace breaking down.
How often you change your filter depends on your home. If you have pets, especially ones that shed heavily, you may find your filter needs replacing every month. On the other hand, if your home is pet free and you tend to dust and vacuum your house a couple times a week, your air filter may last up to three months. To ensure your filter is being changed in a timely manner, it is recommended you at least check it once a month and from there decide whether the air filter needs to be swapped out for a new one.
Keep an Eye on the Pilot Light
If your furnace has a pilot light, it's a good idea to check it from time to time. Any flame color other than blue indicates the ratio of gas to oxygen your burning in your unit is incorrect. An orange or yellow flame also points to a dirty burner. Both issues are serious and require immediate attention from a heating technician.
Clean the Air Registers
Dirty air registers can negatively affect your furnace's efficiency and health. Vacuuming the vents and areas around the vents will eliminate this issue while also cutting back on the dust and pollen that circulates when the furnace turns on.
If you would like to schedule your furnace's yearly tune-up or you have questions about your system's performance, please contact us today and we'll be happy to help you.
