Tips for Keeping Your Furnace Running Smoothly as Long as Possible
Your furnace works hard to keep your home nice and warm all winter long. Still, like any other utility, it does best with consistent upkeep to ensure it runs smoothly and to reduce the risk of any inconvenient breakdowns. Maintaining your furnace ensures it lasts years longer, especially compared to a neglected system. It also means lower energy bills!
Here are some useful suggestions to prolong the lifespan of your furnace and maintain peak performance for many winters to come.
Replace the Filter Regularly
The filter traps dust, animal dander and other airborne allergens to stop them from reaching the system’s more delicate components. Over time, the filter gets clogged with debris, obstructing ventilation and forcing your furnace to work harder. This unnecessary effort can lead to overheating and sometimes more serious issues.
To keep things running smoothly, don’t forget to check and change the filter around every 1 to 3 months, depending on total usage and the type of filter you use.
Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Another way to reduce your furnace’s total workload is to take what steps you can to boost your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and other sealing accessories around windows and doors will reduce heat loss, allowing your furnace to hold a comfortable temperature. When your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard, it suffers less wear and tear, increasing its lifespan.
Schedule Annual Preventative Maintenance
Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional helps promote your furnace’s overall health. During the appointment, a technician examines, cleans and otherwise optimizes the system for best performance. This proactive service helps identify small issues sooner rather than later, preventing costly repairs. Regular maintenance also improves efficiency, cutting your monthly heating costs.
Keep the Area Near Your Furnace Clear
Keeping the space around your furnace clean encourages better airflow. Make sure the area is kept dust-free and not near any flammable materials. This prevents fire hazards, ensuring your furnace circulates more effectively.
Use a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to truly fine-tune the heating in your home, with features like scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re out or in bed. This limits run time, saving energy and minimizing strain.
Address Any Repairs Immediately
If you notice odd humming, stubborn cold spots or higher energy bills, don’t delay checking out these concerns. Even small problems can quickly evolve into more severe breakdowns. If left unresolved, it could reduce the overall service life of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs can prevent further damage and keep your system better protected.
Maintain Proper Circulation
Your furnace will only operate at its best when the circulation between supply and return vents is balanced. Obstructing more than 80% of your supply registers can lead to overheating or force your furnace to work harder. To help maintain good performance, make sure that the air vents are open and free from being blocked by any curtains. This enables your furnace to move air efficiently.
Set Your Furnace to a Reasonable Temperature
Setting your thermostat above normal forces your furnace to run way too much, putting excess stress on the entire system. This constant demand results in extra wear and tear. To keep it running longer, set your thermostat to an energy-efficient temperature—ideally between 68 and 72 degrees F. You can alternatively adjust the temperature by 8 to 10 degrees while you’re sleeping. These adjustments save energy and reduce further stress on your furnace.
Invest in a Modern Furnace When the Time Is Right
If your furnace is old and needs more frequent repairs, it may be time to replace it. Modern furnaces provide improved performance while still reducing total power use. Although the initial investment may be higher than a repair, the total lifetime repair costs and increased efficiency make it worthwhile.
Trust Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Reliable Furnace Maintenance
Taking care of your furnace avoids any premature, costly failures, enhances its day-to-day operation and can even extend its total potential lifespan. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing takes pride in helping you keep a complete sense of comfort. Our experienced technicians offer efficient, truly Expert service.
If it’s been a while since your last heating tune-up or if you’re interested in customized recommendations to strengthen your furnace, please contact us today!
