Your furnace is one of the most important utilities in your home because it provides warmth. Although furnaces usually last for several years, you must take care of them. Thankfully, there are several DIY methods to do that. But, do you know anything about maintaining your furnace?
If you’re a newcomer to maintaining your furnace don’t hesitate to request professional help. Additionally, we recommend searching for repair services by location. For instance, you can search “furnace replacement in Colorado Springs”.
Do you have a furnace that you don’t know the first thing about? If so, continue reading for the guidance of five simple tips for maintaining your furnace.
Your Essential Guide to Maintaining Your Furnace
1. Check your thermostat.
Have you ever experienced your furnace producing too much heat? Then, you’ve reason to check your thermostat. Your thermostat is a device that determines when and how much heat your furnace will deliver to you.
You don’t want to deal with the stress of having a non-functional furnace. Therefore, take some time to remove the cover and check if all the connections are intact. Then, recalibrate at least once a year. Also, if your furnace is taking a long time to turn on, call for professional help as your thermostat might be faulty.
2. Change your filter.
If you’ve been using your filter for more than three months then probably it’s time for a change. As the days go by particles from the air passing through your filter build-up and clog it which impedes airflow. This causes your furnace to work extra hard to meet your needs and runs up your power bill.
Most times, all your furnace needs to work better is a new filter. The frequency of changing your filter depends on its size and efficiency. So take a tape measure and measure your filter. If it’s a 1-2 inch filter, then you’ve to change it every 1-3 months, but if it’s 3-4 inch you can replace it in 6-9 months. Additionally, if your filter is 5-6 inch then you’ll need to change it in 9-12months.
Now that you know when to make a replacement, set a reminder for your filter change so you don’t miss this all-important activity.
3. Clean your blower.
As air passes through your filter into your blower and so do dirt, dust, and other particles. So, a regular change of your filter saves your blower a lot of stress because dirt build-up, causes your blower to work harder.
Open your blower to find out how it looks inside. You’re likely to find a lot of dirt and debris. If you do, use your vacuum cleaner to suck out all that dirt. Additionally, get a soft brush to clean each part. You can check for loose connections and tighten them up with your screwdriver while you’re at it.
Don’t forget to lubricate your blower motor when necessary.
4. Clean the vents, ducts, and registers.
Vacuum your vents and ducts to ensure they are free of any particles. Also, remove your registers and vacuum them as well.
Dirty registers equally make your furnace work twice as hard to provide you with the warm air you require.
Like your filters, they dirty your air whenever they are unclean. Therefore, cleaning them alongside your vents and ducts should be a routine practice.
5. Check your pilot light.
If you use a natural gas furnace, then checking your pilot light is vital. Your pilot light is a small blue flame that ignites the gas causing it to produce heat.
You should note that your pilot light tells you the level of carbon monoxide your furnace is producing.
A yellow or red pilot light shows that fuel isn’t being burnt properly and your furnace isn’t working as expected. Your pilot light is supposed to look blue with yellow or orange at the tip.
Hence, whenever you see anything out of the ordinary like a change in color or your light refusing to turn on, clean the tube or better still call a professional.
In conclusion.
As you make it a point to prioritize the maintenance of your furnace, you can be assured of your safety and its efficiency. Call a professional whenever the need arises and schedule annual inspections as well. If you have any questions or suggestions, we always love to hear from you in the comments below. Also below are links to more fantastic articles about ALL things DESIGN for your home or business.
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About the Author: Ashley Edwards
