Spring has never seemed so far away it seems, as the cold has just set in, at least in some areas. One of the major problems homeowners dread during the winter is their furnace breaking down. If you did not schedule routine maintenance to make sure everything is in order before the heating season started, chances of this happening are even greater.
You cannot expect your furnace to live forever if you don’t take proper care of it or no care at all. While calling in a technician to examine the furnace for any underlying issues is highly recommended, there is a lot of things you can do to make sure it doesn’t fail you when you need it the most.
In this article, we’ll give you 4 useful furnace maintenance tips to make sure your furnace runs smoothly during the winter.
Clean or Change the Air Filter
The first item on every furnace maintenance list is to clean or replace the air filters and for a good reason. These filters are what’s keeping debris, allergens, dust, and insects catching a hike in the air going through your ducts away from your home.
But when the filter gets too dirty, it can cause a number of problems. First of all, it will make the furnace operate less efficiently due to the limited air flow, making it work harder which will result in increased energy consumption and a larger heating bill. Worst off, if the debris stuck on the filter ignite you could risk a home fire. If you’re experiencing a problem with furnance air not blowing, then you need to take swift action. If changing the filter doesn’t help, inspections and getting help from professionals is critical to making your furnace work right!
Perform a Visual Inspection
You should pick a warmer day to do this, so you can safely switch off the circuit breaker and cut the power to the furnace in order to inspect it properly. Once the furnace is cool, you are free to open and examine it. Make sure there is no residue or black soot from the combustion. If you do, you might have to call in a furnace repair company to fix that. Remove any debris with a broom or a small vacuum. While you’re there, don’t forget to replace the air filter if necessary.
Install and Inspect Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, a highly poisonous gas with no color or smell. That’s why a carbon monoxide detector can literally save your life. If there’s a problem with fuel burning in your furnace, which may lead to higher concentrations of carbon monoxide.
Since the gas has no color or smell, by the time your body is alerted to the presence of the gas, it may be too late. The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, loss of breath and nausea.
Since winter is the season when you push the furnace to its limits, adding carbon monoxide detectors is essential. If you do have them, make sure to check they are in working order. If they are powered by electricity, make sure to have a backup power source for them.
Clear the Clutter around the Furnace
The last tip is so obvious that most homeowners forget about it completely. Make sure there are no flammable materials, products or liquids anywhere near the furnace. Ideally, you should store these in a different room.
Contact Hughes Air Heating & Cooling at 220 W 6th Ave, Mesa, AZ 85210, USA; 480-247-6927 or visit https://hughesairco.com/