Maximizing Furnace Efficiency: Fall Maintenance Do’s and Don’ts
Approaching winter can come with an added stress as it is essential to ensure your furnace and other heating systems are running efficiently. Regular maintenance is an integral component to ensure your furnace remains reliable throughout cold weather and this article will discuss the importance of regular furnace maintenance, a fall furnace maintenance checklist to prepare for the cold, common mistakes that hamper furnace efficiency, and when to seek professional furnace help.
The Importance of Regular Furnace Maintenance
Maintaining a home’s furnace is essential to ensure it remains functioning properly and efficiently. Regular upkeep of the furnace prevents safety hazards, breakdowns, and reduces energy costs for a homeowner over time. Moreover, a neglected furnace can cause major inconveniences and expenses in the future.
Scheduling an annual service visit with One Stop Utah is recommended as part of a home’s regular maintenance routine. During the service visit, a technician will inspect the furnace, thoroughly clean out dirt and debris, and replace any parts or filters with ease. While cleaning the furnace, the technician will also ensure nothing is amiss, look for signs of carbon monoxide leaks, and test the combustion and furnace heat.
Preventing furnace problems requires more than just a professional HVAC service. Similarly, homeowners can further reduce the risk of unexpected repairs by carrying out the appropriate maintenance. This includes changing air filters every one to three months depending on the type of filter used, and ensuring all vents and registers are open and free of dust, furniture, or debris.
Furthermore, if a homeowner notices strange noises coming from the furnace, notices the temperature is not consistent, the pilot light is off, or the furnace shuts off and on repeatedly, then it is time to call a professional. As a result, in order to keep a home’s furnace in proper shape, anyone who owns one should ensure annual visits from a qualified technician, regular filter changes, and take notice of any potential problems that may arise with the system. Consequently, by taking the necessary steps to maintain a furnace, a homeowner can keep their home warm and their energy bills low.
Fall Furnace Maintenance Checklist: Preparing for the Cold
As temperatures start to cool in autumn, it is important to start preparing for the colder months ahead. One of the most important maintenance tasks to check off your list is ensuring that your furnace is in working order. A furnace maintenance checklist can be helpful for homeowners to ensure that their system is ready to provide warmth all season long.
Having your furnace serviced by a qualified technician is the most important step you can take in the fall. While you may be familiar with changing the filters and having the thermostat calibrated, it is important to leave the more technical aspects of servicing your furnace to the professionals. This can include lubricating mechanical parts, checking the ventilation system, and cleaning the burner and heat exchanger.
Homeowners will want to check the air filter and replace it if necessary. A dirty air filter can reduce your furnace’s efficiency and performance over time, and will require more frequent replacement due to the amount of dust and dirt that is often in the air during the winter season. Additionally, the air conditioner blower motor can be inspected to look for cracks or signs of wear-and-tear, and the ducts should be vacuumed and cleaned as needed. It is also important to inspect the safety components of your furnace. This includes making sure that the pilot light is clean and operating properly, as well as examining the pressure relief valve and flue pipe for proper exhaust. Furthermore, it is a good idea to check the furnace’s controls and switches to make sure that they are all in working order.
In addition, there are some other preventive maintenance tasks that can be done in the fall in order to prepare your furnace for the colder months ahead. This includes clearing away any vegetation from the furnace’s outdoor air intake and exhaust vents, insulating the hot and cold water pipes, and checking for any signs of damage or wear-and-tear.
A fall furnace maintenance checklist does not have to end with the furnace itself. For instance, inspect doors and windows to make sure that they are properly sealed and insulated. Doing so will help to reduce air leakage and lower your monthly energy bill. As a result, you can enjoy a more energy-efficient and cost-effective winter season.
Finally, a pre-winter furnace checkup is a great way to start off the upcoming cold months. Keeping your furnace in peak condition all season long can help to prevent any unexpected furnace issues, and subsequently save you money on costly repairs. Therefore, if you take a few extra steps to ensure that your furnace is running as efficiently as possible, you can enjoy a warm and comfortable winter season.
Common Mistakes that Hamper Furnace Efficiency
Common mistakes that hamper furnace efficiency include failing to replace filters, inadequate insulation of homes, improperly adjusted burners, and ignoring maintenance issues. Failing to replace filters reduces the system’s efficiency by restricting airflow, while inadequate insulation can hamper efficiency as heating and cooling losses lead to higher energy costs. Burners should be adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and regular maintenance helps ensure the furnace will continue to operate at peak efficiency.
On the other hand, failure to supervise the combustion process or ignoring routine maintenance can reduce the overall efficiency of the furnace. If the combustion process is not supervised, the furnace may produce less heat than it should, burning too much fuel and creating a hazardous condition. Similarly, failing to replace filters, including blowers and humidifiers, reduces the system’s energy efficiency and increases maintenance costs.
Furthermore, incorrect thermostat settings can lead to an increase in energy expenses while attempting to heat a home. Additionally, dirty condensation lines can lead to water damages and costly repairs, contributing to an increase in energy bills. Therefore, homeowners should check their condensation lines regularly, and use the lowest temperature possible on their thermostat to maximize furnace efficiency.
In contrast, closing or blocking registers in unused areas should be avoided if possible. Closing registers in unused areas can cause air pressure imbalances and lead to increased energy costs. In addition, damaged, clogged or blocked ducts drastically reduce efficiency, as they reduce the flow of heated air throughout the home.
As a result, regular inspection and maintenance of the furnace and ductwork is important to keeping the system performing at its best. Homeowners should keep registers open and clear of any debris, and maintain an adequately insulated home in order to maximize efficiency and decrease energy bills. Consequentially, taking steps to prevent common mistakes that hamper furnace efficiency can result in more comfortable indoor conditions and reduced energy costs.
Seeking Professional Furnaace Help: Knowing When to Call In
For most furnace owners, self-maintenance and repairs are the best way to prevent their home heating from failing during the coldest months. However, knowing when to reach out to professionals for specialized repairs is essential, as anyone who’s ever gotten stuck with a furnace problem during inclement weather can attest.
Before making the decision to contact a professional, checking for any furnace make and model specific issues is the first step. If the issue can’t be found by consulting the manufacturer’s website, the next step would be to consult with a reputable local furnace dealer. On the other hand, if the homeowner does decide to tackle the repairs on their own, it is important to consult with a technician or an online learning center such as U-Fix-It that carries factory authorized parts and advice.
Moreover, furnace owners should pay close attention to any warning signs, such as frequent cycling, inadequate heat or sounds of unfamiliar noises coming from the unit, as these may be indicators of problems that should be addressed by a professional. Furthermore, age is another important factor to consider, as regular maintenance is essential for long-term performance regardless of a furnace’s age.
In addition, if any kind of gas or oil fumes are detected from the unit, it is wise to call in a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) professional immediately. This is an important safety precaution – methane gas can be deadly if inhaled – and may be covered under the homeowner’s insurance policy in the event of a mishap.
For instance, the task of restoring a furnace can include diagnostics, cleaning, blower wheel overhauls, changing filters, thermostat testing and replacement, and other services that require specialized knowledge and experience. A professional HVAC service company will be able to diagnose and repair problems more quickly and efficiently than the typical homeowner, helping to save time, money, and hassle in the long run.
Finally, even the most vigilant homeowners may find themselves in need of professional furnace repair, as most systems normally require two or three major repairs by the time they reach the end of their life span. As a result, it is important to know which type of technician or service supplier to contact depending on the job at hand. Similarly, once the service is chosen, the homeowner must ensure that the technician is adequately insured and licensed in order to protect against any potential liabilities.
Consequently, nine times out of ten, professional service providers should be consulted if a furnace issue arises. While the possibility of an extra cost may be nerve-wracking, the long-term satisfaction of having the problem adequately addressed is worth the added expense.
Key Takeaways
Regular maintenance of a furnace is paramount for its continued efficiency and for ensuring cost-effective home heating. Many of these maintenance tasks are best carried out by a professional furnace technician. However, homeowners can often accomplish basic maintenance on their own if they’re armed with the right information. Knowing what’s involved in typical maintenance will help people identify and avoid the common mistakes that hamper furnace efficiency such as neglecting the air filter, failing to properly winterize, and not scheduling an annual professional tune-up. Additionally, homeowners should know when it’s necessary to seek help from a professional, such as when a flame sensor needs replacing, unusual noises occur, or the furnace is more than 15 years old. Regular furnace maintenance is the best way to keep a system in efficient working order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I schedule furnace maintenance?
Furnace maintenance should be scheduled at least once a year. It’s best to do this in the fall before the start of winter. This will ensure that your furnace is running efficiently and safely for the cold months ahead.
What tasks can I handle myself and what should be left to professionals?
It really depends on what types of tasks you are referring to. Generally speaking, if the task is something you need to do regularly and you are comfortable with, then it is fine to handle it yourself. However, tasks which require specialized or advanced knowledge or skills should be left to professionals. Examples include plumbing, electrical, appliance repair, legal advice, health care, and financial advice.
Are there any warning signs that my furnace might not be running efficiently?
Yes, there are several warning signs that your furnace may not be running efficiently such as: higher energy bills; strange noises coming from your furnace; your furnace short-cycling; the air coming from your vents is not as warm as it used to be; your furnace is taking longer than normal to heat your home; or your furnace is running continually with no off cycle. If you suspect that your furnace may not be running efficiently, it’s important to contact a professional furnace technician for an assessment and necessary repairs.
How can I ensure my furnace’s lifespan is maximized?
To maximize the lifespan of a furnace, it is important to have regular maintenance and certified professional service. This includes having the furnace’s air filters changed regularly and having professional technicians examine the furnace annually to make sure it is working properly and efficiently. Additionally, it is important to check the furnace regularly for signs of damage or wear and make sure that all combustion units, controls, and wiring are properly installed and maintained. Finally, keeping the area around the furnace clear of dust, debris, and flammable materials can help to preserve the unit.
