The winter is coming, which means it’s time to start preparing for the cold. One of the most important parts of that preparation is making sure you have a furnace that will keep your house warm and last an entire season. It would not feel good when your furnace breaks during the coldest day of the season. You can do a couple of things to prevent that from happening or at least help ensure your furnace stays up and running. If you’re not sure how to maintain your furnace properly, look at these important steps.
Replace Broken Down Parts
Whenever something breaks down, it is important to replace that part as quickly as possible. You must get genuine furnace parts for your specific model so that everything fits properly and works the way it is supposed to. Otherwise, you may have a faulty furnace with parts that do not work correctly.
While you might be tempted to try and fix the problem yourself, it is usually best to call a professional. If you try and fix the problem yourself, there’s no telling what could happen. You might end up causing more damage or making the issue even worse than before. So if your furnace breaks down, don’t hesitate to contact an HVAC company right away to take care of everything for you.
Clean Out the Exhaust
One of the most important things to do is clean out your furnace’s exhaust vents regularly. If you don’t, all that dust and dirt could actually clog up your entire system, which can cause some serious issues down the road. Manufacturers recommend having this done at least once every season.
While you should take care of this on your own, it is important to note that there are some things you should not put down the vents, such as paper towels and tissues. These can easily get stuck inside and cause all kinds of problems for your furnace, so use a damp cloth instead. Since cleaning out these vents isn’t something you’ll want to do every few days, you must get in a routine and ensure everything is done by the end of each season.
Clean or Replace the Filters
It is also important to clean or replace your furnace’s filters regularly. These help keep the air inside your home nice and fresh, so you don’t have to deal with dust and allergens floating around everywhere. Manufacturers recommend doing this at least once every couple of months, though some people do it more often than that. If you don’t replace or clean your filters, you could end up with a poorly working furnace that is hard to control.
While it’s important to get these done on your own, make sure you know what kind of filter works best for your specific model before heading out and buying one. If the new filter doesn’t fit correctly, it won’t do you any good and could actually worsen the problem.
Ensure the Blower Motor is Functioning Correctly
You should also inspect your blower motor to ensure it is working correctly. If this part breaks down, then there’s a good chance the rest of your furnace will soon follow, and no one wants that to happen when we’re talking about keeping warm during wintertime.
With that in mind, make sure you check out the fan by spinning it with your hand (when the system is off) to ensure the motor is working well. If you notice anything off or feel any grinding, don’t hesitate to contact a professional right away. The experts will be able to look and see if there is anything wrong with the motor and, if so, will be able to fix it for you.
Remove All Flammable Objects From Around the Furnace
Another crucial step is removing all flammable items from around the furnace. This will help keep you and your family safe while ensuring that nothing starts on fire or gets damaged in any way.
It’s also a good idea to remove things like clothing, pillows, blankets, papers, etc., since these can easily catch on fire if they come into contact with the furnace. So before you do anything else, take a look around your home and move any flammable objects away from the furnace. Ensure that your furnace has a free space of 20-30 feet in all directions.
Ensure that Household Vents are Free and Clear
Once you’ve taken care of all the other things on this list, it’s time to move on to inspecting your household vents. If these are blocked in any way, then it will be challenging for your furnace to function properly and could lead to some serious problems down the road.
To check this, remove one of the vent covers and make sure nothing obstructs the vent. If you notice anything off, remove it carefully so as not to damage the system further or hurt yourself in any way. It is also important to maintain your furnace the way it was installed to prevent any unnecessary problems down the road.
Minimize Your Home’s Heating Load
The final step you can take to help your furnace run more efficiently is minimizing the amount of load it has to deal with. This means making sure that all the windows and doors in your home are properly insulated and closed uptight. It’s also a good idea to avoid using heaters or fireplaces unnecessarily as these will only add more work for your furnace.
When you minimize the load, your furnace will run more efficiently and will use less energy in the process. Also, you will enjoy the importance of having good insulation for your home. This, in turn, will help keep your monthly bills down and save you some money in the long run.
Now that you know how to maintain your furnace properly, you must follow these tips regularly. This will help keep your system running smoothly and ensure that you stay warm all winter long. If you notice anything wrong with your furnace, don’t hesitate to contact a professional. They will be able to look and see if there is anything wrong with your system and, if so, will be able to fix it for you.
