As winter sets in, maintaining your gas furnace is key to staying warm and cozy while saving on energy bills. But how can you be certain that your furnace can withstand a colder climate?
This comprehensive guide will equip you with the skills and techniques required to perform essential gas furnace maintenance yourself. Following the mentioned tips and steps will extend its lifespan while keeping your home comfortable all winter. So, let’s get started!
1. Furnace Surroundings Cleaning
The space surrounding a furnace should never serve as a storage area. Clutter can impede airflow, prevent access for maintenance staff, and create fire risks.
Therefore, keep this clutter at bay. Remove flammable items, such as boxes and decorations, while vacuuming away accumulated dust or cobwebs. This easy step ensures proper airflow while making future maintenance tasks much simpler.
2. Air Filter Replacement
Air filters serve as your furnace’s lungs, trapping dust, allergens, and particles before they circulate throughout your home. Clogged filters impede airflow, which in turn forces the furnace to work harder, leading to potential overheating or reduced efficiency.
For optimal performance, be sure to replace your air filter regularly. Most manufacturers advise replacing it every three months during peak cooling or heating seasons. Consult your furnace manual for specifics, and set an alert in your calendar now so you won’t forget!
3. Vent And Register Cleaning
Registers and vents provide warm air access into various rooms of a building, but any obstruction or blockage of these systems could decrease airflow and heating efficiency.
Here’s how you can keep them clear:
- Visual inspection: Look for signs of dust accumulation on registers and vents to determine whether they require cleaning.
- Cleaning registers: Most registers can be easily disassembled with a screwdriver. Use a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment to easily eliminate dirt and dust accumulations, followed by wiping them down using a damp cloth for an efficient clean.
- Vacuuming vents: For optimal performance, use your vacuum’s hose attachment to remove any visible dirt or dust that has settled within the vents.
- Pro tip: When cleaning out your vents, switch on only the fan of your furnace (not cooling or heating systems) so as to help dislodge dust from the ductwork.
4. Ductwork Examination
The ducts deliver warmth into your home. Over time, their efficiency may become reduced as dirt or insulation gathers within them and prevents airflow. This leads to decreased efficiency and imbalanced heating in your home. Use a powerful vacuum to cleanse all ducts effectively before closing any open access points into the furnace to stop additional air from entering it.
5. Blower Inspection And Cleaning
A blower, also referred to as the furnace fan in some systems, serves a critical purpose in your heater system: circulating warm air created through your furnace. A malfunctioning or dirty blower could have detrimental consequences for its efficiency and performance.
Here is how you can ensure your blower is in working condition:
- Safety first: Switch off both the furnace and power source prior to beginning any work on it.
- Access the blower compartment: Locate the access panel for blowers within your furnace. Referring to its user manual will help guide the opening of this door safely.
- Examine the blower: Check for signs of dust accumulation on the blades as well as in its housing, then inspect the fan belt (if your furnace includes one) for cracks or wear and tear.
- Clean your blower thoroughly: Use soft-bristle cleaning tools or a vacuum with a soft attachment to clear away dust from its blades. You can also use a damp and clean cloth to wipe down its housing.
- Fan belt replacement: When replacing an older fan belt that shows signs of wear, be sure to follow your manual’s recommendations regarding size and specifications when choosing an equivalent belt.
6. Thermostat Calibration
Your thermostat serves as the heart of your gas furnace’s control center, maintaining indoor temperatures according to the settings you have specified. Over time, however, thermostats become inaccurate, creating discomfort and higher energy costs.
Here’s how you can test and calibrate your thermostat:
- Get a thermometer: Place an accurate thermometer near your thermostat, then set an ideal temperature on it.
- Check temperature: Allow at least 30 minutes, and compare the reading on your thermometer against what has been set on the thermostat. There should only be slight discrepancies.
- Replace or calibrate: If readings vary significantly from what they should, refer back to your thermostat manual for recalibration guidelines. Otherwise, it might be best to purchase another model with better and more accurate parameters.
Conclusion
By following the above steps, you can easily manage basic gas furnace maintenance yourself, such as changing air filters or checking for blockages. For more extensive gas furnace maintenance and peace of mind, professional assistance should always be considered.
Kuhn’s Heating and Air team of skilled HVAC technicians can save time and effort and ensure your job is done accurately. Our knowledge and experience can assist in the early identification of potential issues to avoid costly breakdowns while optimizing furnace performance. So don’t wait: reach out today to schedule your appointment and stay warm all season long!
