3 Ways to Clean Your Furnace

November 10, 2020 | onestoput | Heating

Did you know that a dirty furnace can’t run properly? Dirt and dust that collects in various areas of your furnace will cause restrictions in airflow. This will then place a significant strain on your furnace, preventing it from heating your home efficiently. The strain on your furnace will also eventually lead to breakdowns.

The best way to prevent harm to your furnace is to clean it regularly. You may think cleaning a furnace is a difficult task because it has so many parts and you don’t know which furnace parts need cleaning. However, cleaning your furnace can be done easily and keep your furnace running efficiently. Review these simple tips for cleaning your furnace.

Tip 1: Monitor Your Air Quality

Most people think of air quality and think about the irritants that affect their respiratory system. These irritants can eventually cause you to get sick. While this is certainly a concern, there is more to air quality than your own health.

For a furnace, dust, dirt, pollen and other debris can be quite harmful. These contaminants can clog up your furnace and prevent it from operating efficiently. For example, your furnace may not be able to produce the desired heat you want for your comfort level. Furthermore, these contaminants may cause your system to work harder and longer to meet your desired temperature needs. If this happens, you’re going to experience breakdowns that’ll lead to costly repairs in the future.

Did you know that heat affects the already low moisture in the air in the winter months? This low moisture content in the air can lead to more contaminants that are circulated when your furnace operates.

One of the best things you can do to improve your air quality is to manage your humidity levels. During the winter, consider running humidifiers to keep your indoor air from getting too dry. Accordingly, during the summer consider running a dehumidifier when the humidity is high.

The optimum humidity for a home is between 30% and 50%. This is enough moisture needed to help keep dust and other contaminants out of the air without encouraging mold and mildew to grow. By maintaining the optimum humidity levels, you could increase the life of your furnace.

Tip 2: Keep Everything Clean

The cleaner you keep your home and the area around your furnace, the better it will run. When you clean your filters, consider sweeping or vacuuming any dirt or dust that may have collected on them. If you vacuum your air filters often, then more air can pass freely through them and you could extend the life of your filter.

If you notice that your filters still appear dirty after cleaning or if you’re noticing less air volume flowing from your registers, it’s time to replace your filter.

Make sure to check your air filters often to ensure air can pass freely through them. Most air filters will last roughly 60 to 90 days. However, you may want to check them more often, especially during the drier months. Once you notice that your air filters are collecting dust on the intake side of the filter, it’s time to change them.

The filter isn’t the only component of a furnace you should keep clean. You should clean the surrounding areas of your furnace. Make sure to check for any fallen leaves, limbs or dirt near your furnace. If you see signs, then it’s time to perform an outside clean-up

Tip 3: Schedule Furnace Maintenance

Finally, be sure to schedule regular maintenance for your system. Your furnace should be serviced every year to ensure it’s working properly as you head into the coldest months.

During a regular maintenance visit, a technician will clean the difficult or hard-to-reach parts of your furnace. This usually includes your circulating fan, the heat exchanger, and the burners. The maintenance goes well beyond cleaning, too, and it includes inspecting and testing your entire system. This reduces your risk of having a furnace failure during the cold parts of the winter.

One Stop Heating & Cooling in Sandy, UT, has been the go-to service provider for furnace tune-ups for the last 20 years. Our team is trained to maintain and service all makes and models. Plus, we provide expert repair and installation for modern brands on the market. Call us today to schedule your furnace tune-up and get your system ready to handle the winter.