You depend on your furnace. It keeps your family and pets warm and it helps protect your plumbing from damage. Your furnace plays an important role in your home. Since your furnace is good to you, you should be good to it. Your furnace needs to be properly taken care of and needs to undergo routine maintenance so you can ensure it is functioning its best and that it lasts for as long as possible.
Your furnace is one of the most important pieces of equipment to your home. While it is most likely an unattractive metal box either in your basement, attic, crawl space, or closet, it is the most important feature in your home during cold weather. You want to make sure it is ready for colder days that lie ahead, so here a few things that you can do to make sure it is ready to serve you well.
There are several things that you can do on your own to make sure your furnace is taken care of, and if it needs help that you cannot handle, then make a call to an expert that you can trust to handle the task. Take the time to understand what you can do to take care of your furnace and understand the maintenance process.
How To Take Care of Your Furnace
Here are a few things that you can do to help keep your furnace in tip-top shape.
- Inspect the air filters – You should do a monthly inspection of your furnace’s air filters. If it looks dirty, you should change it. Frequently changing the filter will help prevent dirt and debris accumulating in your system, which would lead to lower efficiency and cause equipment to fail.
- Keep a functioning carbon monoxide detector – You should make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector in operating order in your home. If your furnace malfunctions or fails, it can cause a carbon monoxide leak. You will want a carbon monoxide detector that is either battery operated or that has battery back-up. Make sure you have one on every level of your home – including the basement.
- Be sure to keep the vents clear and clean – Before the cold weather arrives and you use your furnace for the first time this season, you will need to remove the covers from heating vents on the ceilings and floors throughout your home. Be sure to vacuum out all the ducts where pet dander, dust, dirt, and small toys and other small items can end up. These cause your furnace to work harder, which will increase utility bills and shorten your furnace’s life.
There are some routine maintenance steps that should be left to the professionals. Here are a few things that you should call an expert to do:
An annual tune-up – Your furnace needs an annual pre-season check-up. It can help you avoid expensive problems later. An expert will make sure that the thermostat is working like it should, that the system cycles off and on as it should, and will go through a list of checks, which include:
- Oiling the moving parts
- Tightening any loose electrical connections
- Inspecting any gas connections
After you have had all the routine maintenance done, you should listen and notice for any problems. If you notice any unusual noise coming from the furnace, you should immediately call a heating expert to come check out your furnace and fix any problems. It could be that a part has failed, a part has come loose, another cleaning could be needed, or a sign that your furnace has served its purpose and its lifespan is up. All furnaces must be replaced at some point in time. When you are proactive and work to make sure your furnace is in tip-top shape, you will get better service and make sure you maximize the lifespan of the unit. You are also making sure it is operating safely, and there are no fire hazards, that the unit is clean, and that there are no carbon monoxide concerns.
Talk With A Heating Expert
You should establish a relationship with a heating expert in your area. That way, when you need repairs or service, you can call them, and they will be familiar with your unit and your situation. These professionals will be able to make sure your unit is up to par and that all the appropriate maintenance has been done. With the help of a heating professional, you can save yourself time and money over the long run.
