How often do you take care of your furnace? If the answer is not frequently enough, you should definitely do something about it.
When heating systems are properly maintained, they deliver the best heat output without wasting any energy or triggering harmful emissions. In contrast, by deferring maintenance for a long period, the unit becomes harmful to air quality, expensive to run, and possible to break down.
Have a look at some handy furnace maintenance tips to prepare your unit for the upcoming winter.
Start off early
The best maintenance tip for Columbia residents to follow when it comes to the condition of their furnaces is starting off early. The largest part of homeowners doesn’t check these units until the cold weather leaves no choice but to switch them on. Nevertheless, sometimes, homeowners get surprised by furnace failure at the beginning of the cold season.
In order to prevent such failure, residents of Columbia are advised to perform an inspection and conduct maintenance while the weather still allows it. Consequently, you should take advantage of the sunny days in autumn and do your annual maintenance, thus leaving enough time for repairs if necessary.
Safety is essential
Another essential tip to follow is that safety should be your number one priority. It’s of the utmost importance for the furnace to be switched off before you decide to perform any tasks. Nevertheless, homeowners are suggested to hire professionals if maintenance goes beyond basic tasks.
For instance, heater repair specialists should be hired to perform tune-ups, cleaning, and inspections. There are numerous heating repair companies, such as Peters Heating and Air Conditioning of Columbia, MO, delivering top-rated and safe services. Remember to schedule an annual inspection each autumn to get your unit ready for winter.
Conduct a visual test
Prior to working on your furnace, spare some time to conduct a visual inspection. It’s important to check the position of the venting pipe and the drainage tube. Both of them should be fastened securely and angled properly.
Besides checking the furnace visually, use your sense of smell to detect unpleasant scents around the gas line of the system. This line takes the form of a flexible tube. A rotten egg aroma indicates a leak of gas from the heater.
Replace the filter regularly
Another crucial maintenance tip is replacing the filter on a regular basis. This task is undoubtedly among the easiest for Columbia homeowners, as well as the most important. The role of clean filters is to enable air to circulate through the unit efficiently, thus prolonging the lifespan of the system. These filters should be replaced between one and three months of use, as instructed by the manufacturer.
Moreover, houses, where household members are smokers or have pets, should replace their furnace filters more frequently. Dirty filters have the capacity to cause serious equipment issues, such as restricted airflow, an overworked fan motor, poor indoor air quality, and clogged ductwork. When airflow is restricted, the fan motor suffers an additional strain, which might result in motor burnout. Follow this link, https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-to-change-a-furnace-filter/, for some handy tips on changing a furnace filter.
Additionally, when the fan motor overworks, it uses much more energy and poses a threat to the system while increasing the cost of your utility bill. When indoor air quality is drastically reduced, there is a higher risk for household members experiencing asthma and allergies. Ultimately, clogged ductwork is capable of reducing the lifespan of your equipment. Regular filter changes are believed to reduce the cost of energy bills by at least five to fifteen percent.
Clean the drainage tube
Another valuable furnace maintenance tip for Columbia residents is cleaning the drainage tube. Homeowners owning propane or natural gas heaters are likely to witness the creation of water as a byproduct. Even though a portion of this water turns into steam, the rest finds its way into a drip pan.
When the drainage tube becomes clogged, backed-up water might cause damage to the flame sensor. If this sensor sustains damage, the entire system will be shut down. Therefore, homeowners should do their best to keep the drainage tube clean. You should first detach it from the manifold and then blow compressed air through it. The best method for cleaning the residual is by pouring a cup of white vinegar through it to prevent any buildup.
Don’t forget dusting and vacuuming
Dust, debris, and dirt are capable of making a furnace work with insufficient capacity. In order to prevent dust from becoming a problem, you should dust and vacuum the unit regularly. Dusting is best performed with a soft brush, which is applied to the inner components gently to make dust and debris looser. Afterward, the removed material should be collected with a portable vacuum.
Take care of the flame sensor
As mentioned above, the flame sensor is essential in making sure the furnace works properly. When this sensor is dirty, the unit might even stop working. Hence, this vital part should be cleaned a minimum of once annually. Start by unscrewing the sensor from the furnace and then cleaning it with a cloth. Then, you can screw it back or replace it.
To sum up
Basic maintenance tasks can be performed by homeowners by taking care of safety.
Inspections and more complicated tasks should be trusted to experienced professionals!
