We write and talk about how to keep your HVAC equipment in good shape. Your equipment, especially your furnace, will last longer if you take care of it regularly. Maintenance not only protects your investment and saves you money, but it also keeps your equipment running safely.
If you don’t keep your furnace in good shape, it’s more likely to leak gas or cause other dangerous problems, like making carbon monoxide. For these and other reasons, it’s a good idea to keep your furnace in good shape. We have put together these ten quick tips to help you keep your furnace in great shape.
Make sure that your thermostat is working right
Does the setting on your thermostat seem to match how hot or cold your house is? If your thermostat doesn’t work right, your furnace won’t work the way it should. The performance of a thermostat can be hurt by things like dirt and bad calibration. To make sure that your thermostat is set up correctly, call us and have a technician check your HVAC system for problems.
Look at the filter
Changing your air filters often is very important. Air filters keep the air inside your home clean and free of allergens and diseases that can spread through the air. But as dirt and dust build-up on the filters, not only will they be less effective at cleaning the air, but your furnace will have to work harder to push and pull air through them. This means that you’ll have to pay more for energy and that the temperature in your home won’t be as stable. Since it’s easy and cheap to change air filters, there’s really no reason not to do it often.
Keep an eye on the valve
Most furnaces have a control valve, which is there for safety. If your furnace isn’t giving off heat, this is one of the first places you should check. On a gas furnace, the control valve is on the line that brings in the gas. Check that this valve is in the “on” position and that gas can get into your furnace. Your furnace can’t make heat if it has nothing to burn. It’s as simple as that.
Your furnace should be cleaned often
You clean your house, your car, and your dishes, but does your furnace make your list of things to clean? Probably, it should be if it’s not. A dirty furnace won’t heat as well as a clean one, and the dirtier it gets, the more likely it is that one of its parts will break.
Make sure to clean and maintain your furnace to keep your energy and heating costs low. If you don’t know what needs to be cleaned, start with the motor, blower, and filter system. Contact us about an HVAC Maintenance Agreement if you need more parts cleaned or don’t want to worry about keeping your furnace up to date. A technician will come to your home on a regular basis to make sure your furnace is in great shape all year long.
Check how tight the belt is
If the tension belt on your home furnace is out of place, it can make a lot of noise. If the belt looks worn or frayed, you should get a new one.
Oil the engine
Every season and as needed, a couple of drops of oil should be added to the furnace. Don’t use too much oil.
Wash out the vents
Vents should be checked often for blockages and debris. Carbon monoxide poisoning, which could be fatal, could happen if the airflow is blocked.
Spring came to an end
Gas furnaces need to be turned off when winter is over. This is also a good time to clean the furnace and change the air filter to make it work better.
Follow these tips at the beginning of each season to keep your furnace running well and reliably all season long.
