10 Furnace Maintenance Tips
Having a well-functioning furnace is extremely important when living in a state like Minnesota. After all, the winters in our state can get extremely cold, accompanied by high winds and heavy snow. As a homeowner, you should ensure that your furnace works properly all year long.
By following a few maintenance steps, you can prolong your furnace's lifespan and dependability. Here are ten tips for effectively maintaining your furnace.
1. Ensure Vents are Not Blocked
If you want the warm air to circulate through your house properly, you need to make sure that all your vents are free from obstacles in front of them. If they’re blocked, it can cause the furnace to work harder because the air is not circulating.
The thermostat will continue to think that it’s too cold in the house. Move furniture and other items from in front of vents to help your furnace run better.
2. Clean the Filter
Your furnace’s filter plays an important role in preventing toxins and particles from polluting your home’s air. When living in Minnesota, you may use your furnace often throughout the year. Because of this, you should clean and replace your furnace’s filter every few months.
Not only will this maintenance step help keep your home’s air clean, but it will also prevent your furnace from malfunctioning. If you require assistance with maintaining your furnace’s filter, contact the Quality Systems & Heating team for professional HVAC services.
3. Clean the Furnace Ducts
If your furnace utilizes forced air to function, you should take the time to clean or repair your furnace ducts. Because furnace ducts may become damaged after a certain period of time, you’ll need to ensure they remain clean so that your furnace can continue to function properly.
4. Inspect the Fan
The fan is an important component of your furnace. The fan is responsible for helping the air move through the furnace. When your fan malfunctions, you’ll face further issues with the rest of your furnace.
To prevent your fan from malfunctioning, perform regular inspections. During these inspections, remove any built-up dust or dirt that you may see on the fan. This will help your furnace remain clean and properly functioning.
5. Inspect the Thermostat
When you set your thermostat but don’t feel the area reach that particular temperature, your furnace may be malfunctioning. To avoid any issues, you should routinely check that your thermostat is working properly.
If your thermostat requires replacement, contact the professionals at Quality Systems Heating & Cooling. We’ll help you efficiently replace your thermostat so you can have a comfortable home all year long.
6. Check Blower Motor Functionality
The furnace blower motor is the part of the furnace that drives the fan to provide air movement. The blower motor pushes the heated air through the heat exchanger, which distributes it throughout the house. It has a lot of moving parts, and if not properly maintained, it can break down.
If you notice that your furnace’s blower is noisy, then that can indicate a problem. You may hear high, shrill sounds, which can mean that two metal surfaces are grinding against each other. Make sure you regularly check your blower motor’s functionality to ensure that it does not cause you problems when the temperatures drop.
7. Ensure the Blower is Clean
Similar to the air filter, you will need to make sure your furnace’s blower is sufficiently clean. When the filter is unable to catch various particles, they transfer over to the blower. By cleaning the blower, you’ll be able to remove built-up dirt and protect your furnace from malfunctioning.
8. Clean the Furnace’s Vents
Hazardous malfunctions are more likely to occur when your furnace’s vents are covered with dust and debris. The venting system allows the furnace to properly release air. When the system isn’t able to perform properly, your furnace will break down.
Clean your venting system using a brush or washcloth. By routinely cleaning the vents, you’ll prolong your furnace’s lifespan. The Quality Systems Heating & Cooling team can also help you with this step with our HVAC maintenance services.
9. Reduce Home’s Heating Load
If you notice cold air coming in through any part of your home, then that can make your furnace work even harder to maintain the internal temperature. If you seal up these areas, you can reduce the heat load on your furnace.
Some methods include plastic wrap on windows and covering cracks in doors with new weatherstripping. If you need help identifying potential problems, you can contact Quality Systems Heating & Cooling to help.
10. Schedule a Professional Inspection with Quality Systems Heating & Cooling
Another way you can stay on top of any potential furnace malfunctions is to have a team of HVAC experts regularly inspect your system. At Quality Systems Heating & Cooling, we bring expertise and knowledge to every maintenance service. We’ll make sure there’s nothing threatening the integrity of your furnace. For any issue we find, we’ll provide you with quick and efficient solutions.
How Our Team Can Help You With Maintenance
After following these tips, you may still wonder how you can effectively maintain your furnace so that it’s ready to serve you and your household for years to come. While routinely cleaning, replacing, and inspecting your furnace’s parts will help the system work more efficiently, sometimes additional professional assistance is just what your HVAC system needs.
Our team of technicians uses prompt and honest communication to ensure our customers feel confident in their HVAC systems. We supply a variety of services from repair and installation to overall routine maintenance. No matter your HVAC needs, our team is ready to help you sustain a comfortable and secure home environment all year long.
Prepare for this winter’s natural elements by scheduling a professional HVAC maintenance service with Quality Systems Heating & Cooling. We’ll supply you with the highest quality service to ensure your furnace is ready to keep your household warm and comfortable.
To schedule a service with our team of professional technicians, give Quality Systems Heating & Cooling a call today at 952-226-2665 or send us a message on our website. We look forward to serving you!