We can all agree that furnace is an essential aspect of our lives, especially during cold winter days and nights. That is the main reason why you should think about implementing and maintaining a proper system to ensure its durability and efficiency, among other things.
Remember that proper maintenance is vital for reducing the chances of harmful emissions and wasted energy. The worst thing you can do is avoid and neglect this particular process because it can become expensive to use an implemented furnace system.
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At the same time, it can break down and cause harmful air quality. Routine maintenance is the best way to ensure the ultimate protection and comfort within your home.
Start With Maintenance Before Winter
Imagine yourself on the coldest winter nights, and your furnace fails to provide you the proper temperature you can enjoy. It can easily break down if you neglect regular maintenance, something you should do before winter starts.
The main idea is to be proactive and conduct it annually to ensure that you can handle repairs without affecting your enjoyment and comfort.
In the further article, we wish to provide you with tips to help you out with the process.
1. Eye Test
It is vital to start from the very beginning, including a visual inspection that will provide you peace of mind. Having a gas furnace means you should check whether venting pipes are safely angled and fastened.
Apart from that, you should check other parts, including drainage tubes affecting both AC and furnace systems.
If you notice a different smell, something like rotten eggs next to a gas line and flexible tube, it means that your gas is leaking, and you should find a professional as soon as possible.
2. Drainage Tube Clean Up
Both propane and natural gas furnaces produce water as they work, which will go away through the exhaust system. However, the rest of it will enter a drip pan, especially if you have a proper and interconnected HVAC system.
Remember that the drainage tube can clog after a while, which means that water will fill a flame sensor and manifold. As a result, your system will shut down, and you will have to call a professional to conduct an expensive repair.
Instead, it would be best to clean the drainage tube by blowing compressed air through a drainpipe and tube. Of course, the first thing you should do is to detach it from the manifold.
If you wish to ensure cleanliness, we recommend pouringa small amount of vinegar into pipes and drainage tubes to prevent further clogs and buildup.
3. Thermostat Wires
Before you start with this particular test, you should remove furnace doors and shut the power off. That way, you can check out whether wires are fitting correctly and their tightness by slightly pulling each one.
4. Vacuum and Dust
Keep in mind that debris, dirt, and dust can affect furnace efficiency, and in some situations, they can lead to severe problems that require professional repair.
If you wish to prevent this particular problem, it is vital to use a paintbrush with soft tips and clean furnace components to loosen debris and dust. You should do it carefully to prevent damaging the interior.
As soon as you complete dusting, it would help to use a portable vacuum to remove debris and dust with ease. Check out this site: https://www.ottohc.com/repair-and-maintenance to learn more about AC and furnace maintenance before you start doing it yourself.
Apart from drainage, you should know that a dirty flame sensor could affect the furnace efficiency and lead to severe damage. That is why you should do it at least annually to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency, among other things.
You can do it by unscrewing a sensor and clean it by using an emery cloth, but without water, it has to be dry. As soon as you do it, you can return it to the previous shape, and you will notice a difference.
5. Maintenance Depends on Type of System You Have
We can differentiate numerous types of furnaces, including electric, propane, and gas. Of course, you may have other systems such as baseboard heaters, radiant heat, geothermal heat pumps, or steam radiators, among others.
You should know that radiant floor heating does not require annual maintenance, similar to other options. On the other hand, if you have an electric or gas furnace, you should find a professional HVAC service to guide you throughout the process.
6. Filter Maintenance
You should know that changing the filter is the essential way to ensure that you are AC and furnace stand the test of time. Of course, you can also boost its energy efficiency and overall performance, which is why you should do it at least once a year.
The most common problems that can happen due to dirty filter include:
- Your fan motor will work more than it should and use more energy, which may affect the entire system. As a result, you will end up with a significant energy bill.
- A dirty filter can affect an airflow, which will put a strain on its motor. That may lead to other problems such as equipment fails, system overheats, and burnout motor, among other things.
- Your air quality will become unhealthy compared with other times, which may lead to severe health issues, respiratory problems, and allergies.
- Ductwork with significant debris will reduceyour equipment’s longevity, which will lead you to expensive replacements or repairs.
Conducting regular professional inspection is essential because HVAC services will replace a filter, and you should do it at least once in three months if you use the same one for both furnace and AC.
If you have someone in your house smoking or having pets, you should change it more frequently than others.
The easiest way to avoid forgetting about filter checkups is by setting your date on the calendar that will alert you each few months depending on the manufacturer’s instructions and other factors mentioned above.
Apart from the filter, it would be best to keep furnace surroundings free of obstructions and clean.
Avoid placing combustible tools and materials next to it because it can create havoc on your home. That way, you can avoid potential issues from happening, which is an important thing to remember.