Tips to Keep Your Furnace Functioning This Winter

Oh, the furnace. When the temps are high and the sun is out, we probably don’t give it a second thought. The minute the flurries start falling from the sky, though, it’s our best friend for keeping warm and cozy inside. What happens if you turn it on and… well, nothing happens? Short answer: call the repairman and put on sweater in the meantime.

Unfortunately, as more people turn on their furnaces for the first time in months, repairmen become in high demand. The same problems plague each customer, and there just isn’t enough time in the day to repair them all. Some companies can be booked almost a month in advance. That takes a little more than a sweater to get through.

How can you avoid any chilly surprises this winter? Many issues can be prevented with proper yearly maintenance. Follow these simple steps to avoid the cost and the hassle of a malfunctioning furnace, and ring in the new year toasty warm!

Filter Up

The easiest and most important step in furnace maintenance is routinely changing the air filter. Check it monthly; a consistent schedule ensures you never go too long without replacing the filter. How do you know when it’s time for a change? Hold the filter up to the light. If you can’t clearly see light through it, it needs replaced. The filter packaging may recommend changing it every three months, but it’s still important to check; many need replaced after just a month of use. Not only will this help your heating in the winter, but it will also improve you air conditioning performance in the summer. Need more of an incentive? How do lower utility bills and extending the life of the furnace sound?

It’s also important to check the blower. This can be accessed through panels next to the air filter, when the filter is removed. Occasionally, dirt and debris can get past the air filter and clog the blower. Simply wipe it clean with a towel.

Baby, It’s Cold Inside

Once you’ve replaced the filter, check the thermostat. Broken or malfunctioning thermostats won’t be able to register the actual temperature in the room. Make sure the temperature it’s reading is the actual temperature in the room. This will make sure it turns on at the right time and heats the room to the right temperature. That said, be reasonable about what temperature you can feasible achieve in your home. If it is incredibly cold outside, it will be more difficult to heat up a house, especially if your home lacks sufficient insulation or energy-efficient windows. Luckily, GCD homes have more than sufficient insulation and modern windows to help hold in that heat.

Clean or repair furnace ducts

Just like warm air can escape through poor insulation, it can also escape through leaks in the furnace ducts. Check the ducts for leaks, repair any you find, and use it as an opportunity to clean out the dust that has collected up there. It can keep the air from flowing smoothly. Gas furnaces are also hooked up to an outside ventilation system. This may get clogged with debris, which can be dangerous. It is important to have this inspected annually by a qualified professional.

With furnaces, regular maintenance and a simple, annual inspection can prevent many of the operational ailments that will befall your less-prepared neighbors. Make it a point to have your entire furnace system thoroughly inspected by a professional every year before you have an issue. This preventative approach will help keep you from being left in a chilly situation once the temperature starts to drop. You’ve made an investment in your beautiful new GCD home, and that includes the furnace. Make the time to extend its life with regular maintenance and help invest in your home’s future. It’s as simple as this: take care of your furnace, and it will take care of you!