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With fall approaching, now is the time to start thinking about your furnace. Before it gets too cold out, you should perform some routine maintenance, otherwise you might be stuck with a broken furnace later on in the middle of the winter.
Here are some DIY tips to get your furnace ready for fall:
- Change the filter. The easiest maintenance task you can perform is to simply change the air filters. Air filters do the dirty job of removing dust, allergens, and other particles from the air so you don’t have to breathe them in. This should be done at the start of the heating season as well as once per month until you shut the furnace down next spring.
- Clean the unit. The furnace itself will become dirty throughout its operation due to any dust and particles that do make it past the air filter. Open up the furnace’s panel door and begin cleaning all of its working parts. The blower, pulleys, belts, and the interior surface should all be wiped down to remove any caked on dust that could lower the unit’s efficiency.
- Lubricate bearings. If your furnace is on the older side, chances are it has motor bearings that can be accessed. These bearing will need to be oiled before turning on the heating system for the first time. Try not to over oil each bearing with lubricant.
- Inspect the blower-fan belt. After a while, fan belts will start to deteriorate, crack, and break. Check to see the condition of your furnace’s belt, and if it’s worn out buy a new one. As an insurance policy, purchase a second one in case the first one snaps on a cold winter’s night. Also, make sure the belt is not too loose or too tight. A half of an inch give on either side is the perfect amount for high-efficiency heating.
- Schedule professional service. There’s only so much the average homeowner can do before a professional needs to be called in. Every year before the furnace is put into operation, it should be serviced by a professional HVAC technician. This will increase the furnace’s overall efficiency and reduce the chance of it breaking down in the cold weather months.
Why is Furnace Maintenance Important?
Safety
This goes without saying. Many people do not realize that proper furnace repair also involves keeping it glitch free especially when it comes to gas based heating systems. As a result there is at least one family on the news who suffers the devastating consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning from leaky heating systems.
Maintaining such furnaces involves monitoring carbon monoxide levels regularly especially if your heating system is old and cracking in places. It is also best if you have a heating repair service install a carbon monoxide detection device in your home.
Performance
Your furnace will cost you more in gas bills if it is not running properly. A professional technician will inspect it for any weaknesses and address potential problems that may cause it to stop completely in the not so distant future. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether you own a gas-based furnace or a furnace that runs on electricity. Keeping them working efficiently requires consistent furnace repair. For example, even wiggling flames might be an indication of a seriously deadly problem. In cases such as these, it is best that you turn your furnace off, open the windows for ventilation, and call a professional heating repair service.
Regular furnace maintenance does not only help your heating system run more efficiently; it also prevents it from breaking down when you need it the most during the winter months. Remember, your furnace might be faulty with you being none the wiser. Therefore, it is important that you always have the number of a furnace repair service on speed dial.
Every fall, your gas furnace should receive some love and attention by you and an HVAC technician. When you need your gas furnace serviced, contact the pros at Tri-City Heating and Cooling. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at (203) 303-5700.