Essential Tips for Performing Basic Furnace Maintenance

The furnace is a vital part of your home during the colder months. Good system upkeep ensures maximum heat output with little power waste and risk of hazardous emissions. However, if you wait too long to schedule maintenance, your furnace might become more expensive to run. This will negatively impact indoor air quality or even break down entirely when you need it most. It's possible that you'll have to pay for the entire cost of repairs if a technician determines that your system failed because you neglected to perform routine maintenance. In this blog, we will go over the essential tips for performing basic furnace maintenance.

Swap out your filterAmong the simplest ways to preserve the efficiency of your heating or air conditioning system is to replace the filter regularly. If your air filter is dirty, less air will be able to flow through your heating system, making your blower units work harder than they need to.
 
Furthermore, filters play a significant role in removing allergens, dust, mold, and other particulates from the air in your house. Your old, dirty filter will no longer be able to do its job. Think about upgrading to better filters when it's time to replace your current ones.
Good filters may make a big difference in the air quality, especially if you have pets or live in an area with plenty of airborne pollutants like dust, pollen, or smoke.

Take a look at the pilot lightIt's important to check the furnace's pilot light often since it may tell you a lot about the appliance's health. The pilot light shows whether or not the gas mixture is correct. The color blue is the standard for a pilot light. A flame of any color, especially one that is yellow, is undesirable. A high rate of production of carbon monoxide might be indicated. You might avoid a lot of hassle by just keeping an eye on this pilot light.

Put your senses to useIt's likely that you'll be able to pass your furnace every day without even noticing it's there. Inspect the entire system, but especially in the fall, to check if anything is incorrect.
The first thing you should do if you smell rotten eggs is to call your utility company. The presence of gas in the air might indicate a dangerous leak in your home.
 
The second step is to make sure the venting pipe is placed correctly. Verify that all tubes have been fastened properly. Listen for any strange noises or anything out of the ordinary.

Check the thermostat settingsHave you tried altering the room's temperature but still feel unpleasant? If that's the case, you could have an issue with your thermostat, especially if it's been used for a while. Most likely, you need to replace your thermostat because it has broken. If the thermostat doesn't seem to be operating correctly, get it checked and replaced.
 
The drainage tube needs to be cleanedFurnaces that burn natural gas or propane give off minute amounts of water vapor as they heat. Some of it escapes as steam, but the rest flows down the power exhaust manifold into a drip pan that the air conditioner may also use. The flame sensor will turn the system off if water enters the manifold because the drainage tube is blocked.
 
You can do essential furnace maintenance by cleaning the drainage tube. Furthermore, you should clean the drain pipe like you clean your furniture. To keep the drain tube and drain pipe clean, detach them from the manifold and blow them with compressed air. You can pour a cup of white vinegar into the drainage tube and pipe to help prevent filmy collection.

Make sure your ducts are in working orderDuring the warmer months, pests are looking for a cozy nesting spot, and your ductwork and surrounding insulation provide the perfect environment. Your ductwork may deteriorate over time due to attic or crawlspace conditions. The efficiency of the ducts in your home, which carry air conditioning and heating, might suffer as a result. Additionally, if you've had service employees in your crawl space or attic recently, they may have messed with your ductwork. Uneven temperatures and airflow throughout your home are warning signs of potential duct system failure.
 
Therefore, it is necessary to inspect the ductwork once a year for signs of new tears or breaches, deterioration, insulation peeling away, or ducting collapse. That is unless the ducting in your home is difficult to reach. However, if you aren't sure where your duct system is located, having an HVAC expert inspect and clean your ducts is best.
Recognizing your system and the upkeep requirementsAlthough most American homes have furnaces powered by natural gas or electricity, many more heating options are available. These include propane, geothermal, heat pumps, and radiant floor heating.
 
Learn about the heating system that supplies your home and how it should be maintained. Knowing this will help in performing basic furnace maintenance easier. While radiant floor heating may not require any upkeep, other standard heating systems, including those that use natural gas, should be checked and serviced regularly to ensure their continued efficiency and reliability.

Be alert for any soundsIf a sound that is out of the ordinary comes from the furnace might be an indication of a problem. It's easy to check for problems and ensure the furnace works correctly by listening to the noises it makes. Although this won't solve every problem, it should help reduce the number of issues that go unreported.

If you've waited for too long, don't despairPerforming furnace maintenance is usually not on top of the list of things to check once fall rolls in. Especially if you live in a relatively mild climate that will get colder only when the days start getting shorter. However, even if you have to move while the repairs on your furnace take place, it's not the end of the world. Just remember not to rush anything; pack only what you need the most, and if you have to move some furniture, remember to do it the right way. You'll be back in your home before you know it.

In conclusionPerforming basic furnace maintenance isn't complicated. It's also easy on the wallet to keep a gas furnace running smoothly. Saving money and maybe never having to buy another gas furnace are also possible outcomes. Stop cleaning your gas furnace because it's dirty. If your furnace breaks down, you don't have to worry about hiring a maintenance specialist. Try to maintain a cautious approach. Follow the maintenance tips above to get the most out of your gas furnace.