How Do I Maintain My Furnace?

A question we get a lot is “How do I maintain my furnace?”.  We realize that a new furnace is a large investment, and you want it to last as long as possible.  There are several things you can do to make sure your furnace lives a long happy life.

First, change your air filter regularly.  A clogged air filter will make your furnace run less efficiently, and you may even see an increase in your heating costs!  Also, clean around the opening where the filter fits as well as cleaning the grate or cover that goes over the filter.

Next, clean the blower assembly, belts and pulleys to the blower and motor housing.  Dust and dirt are not your friends!

You can also lubricate the blower motor.

Checking the connections between the furnace and main ducts is also very important.  You could be losing heat without even realizing it!

It is also very important to keep a carbon monoxide detector handy.  It cannot hurt to have them, and it could possibly save your life if your furnace ever does have an issue!

Something a lot of people don’t think of is vacuuming all the dust from the air registers around the house.  Otherwise, you are just circulating the dust in your home. Also, make sure that the vents are unobstructed. Your furnace works less when heated air is not being blocked (which leads to another cost savings!).

You should also remove the flame shield and check the burner for corrosion.

Another very important thing to check is the flue for holes or corrosion.  If you have corroded section, replace them.  Small holes or areas where the flue piping has come apart can be fixed with foil tape or sealant made especially for flues.

Lastly, make sure that you have removed all flammable objects (especially things like boxes, clothes, paints, aerosols, gasoline, etc) from around your furnace and water heater.

If you feel as if you can’t do all of these things on your own, you may want to have a furnace repair service come in and clean and check your furnace.  A clean and well maintained furnace is a happy furnace (and in turn, you have a happy homeowner!)

What are you doing in your home to maintain your furnace this winter season?  Are there any tips or tricks you would like to share?