Written by: Your Filter Connection
Easily the most problematic and maintenance-intensive part of any home HVAC system is the furnace. Whether your furnace is gas-fired or oil-fired, it requires a fair amount of cleaning and maintenance to operate efficiently. While major repairs are best handled by experienced technicians, most minor maintenance tasks can be completed by homeowners themselves. Here are five easy ways to keep your furnace humming.
Regularly Clean Your Furnace
Taking the time to give your furnace a top-to-bottom cleaning each fall is a no-brainer. As your furnace gets mired in gunk over time, carbon monoxide leaks and eventual breakdown become ever greater possibilities. Make sure to clean off the electrostatic furnace filter, wipe down the exterior motor housing and vacuum up any visible debris that may have accumulated.
Inspect & Clean Vents, Flues and Ducts
Giving your heating system’s conduits a thorough once-over every year is a key part of any maintenance regimen. Be sure to clean out any vents or flues that are stopped up with debris. In addition to clearing any blockages you might find, it’s important to check for leaks in your ducts and repair them as needed. You can also check the state of your 3M furnace filter, to see if it needs replacing.
Inspect Belts & Blowers
Regardless of the fuel that your furnace uses, blowers and belts are the key to moving hot air around your house. Clean out the blower assembly, including the housing and wheel, while tightening up any loose nuts or bolts that you come across. Don’t forget to take a look at your fan belts and adjust them to the proper tension.
Change Filters Frequently
Much like a car, a home furnace can’t function efficiently without clean air. In the old days, experts recommended monthly filter changes. However, recent advancements in technology mean that a filter can last an entire season. Choose a high-quality component such as a Honeywell furnace filter to achieve hyper-efficient combustion and improve indoor air quality.
Lubricate Moving Parts
Though a furnace isn’t nearly as complicated as a jet engine, it still requires lubrication to run quietly and efficiently. The internals of most modern motors are sealed up and lubricate themselves. However, a large number of older furnace motors require a few drops of non-detergent 10W oil at the start of the winter season to avoid undue friction and heat.
An Ounce of Prevention
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention will typically save you a pound or more of cure in the long run. If you regularly perform the preceding tune-ups on your furnace, you’ll find yourself saving a decent chunk of change on repairs in the future. Just stick to a sensible maintenance schedule and the results will surely follow.