Unless you live in the Deep South then you are going to rely on your furnace to keep you warm throughout the winter months. There is nothing worse than your furnace breaking down during a cold snap in February so it is in your best interest to make sure that never happens. You can do basic maintenance on your own furnace to reduce the need for emergency call outs. Here are some tips for keeping your furnace running.
Change Your Filters Regularly
Clean filters not only help your system to run better but they keep the air clean in your home. Dirty filters clog up air flow and make your furnace have to work twice as hard for warm air to pass through. You should change it at least twice a year to keep the air clean and the furnace running smoothly. Here is how easy it is to change your furnace filter.
Check the Burners
When you are changing your furnace filters at the same time you should completely shut the system down and vacuum the dirt from around the burners and blowers. You should also check the burner flame when you turn the system back on and check and make sure the flame is blue and even. Yellow flames can indicate problems like carbon monoxide or dirty burners.
Make Sure the Blower and Flame Sensor are Clean
You want the blade of the blower to be clean and you can do that with a vacuum, be careful around the wiring you don’t want to get it damaged. The flame sensore can be cleaned with a cloth designed for metal surfaces.
Check the Belts
Your furnace has a drive belt that needs to be checked on a regular basis, it really isn’t a big deal if the belt is needs replacing it is less than $10.
Leaky Vents
The vents should also be checked when you are checking out your furnace. If there are any leaks then they are easily fixed with some metal tape or other heat resistant tape.
These are some of the more common things that can go wrong with your furnace. These should be checked out on a regular basis, if you aren’t keeping the maintenance up to date then small problems that are easily fixed quickly turn into big problems that cost a lot of money to fix. The last thing you want is your furnace breaking down in the middle of winter.