Maintenance Tips for a Happy Furnace

Fall Furnace Maintenance Tips

School is almost back in session, and Fall is right around the corner.  The chilly nights in Philadelphia and Bucks County will be here before you know it, and we’ll all be longing for the sweet summer heat once again.  When the cold months arrive, it’ll be time to fire up the furnaces to keep our homes nice and toasty. When’s the last time you performed any maintenance on your furnace?  A typical furnace lasts anywhere from 13 to 20 years, but as your furnace ages, it loses efficiency and costs more to heat your home.  Older furnaces can be dangerous too.  If cracks form in the heat exchanger, there is a risk of a carbon monoxide leak that is not only deadly, but will be costly to fix as well.  At HVAC Philly we want to provide you with a few easy maintenance tips to extend the life of your furnace and its efficiency.  Our experienced HVAC technicians are experts in furnace, boiler, and heat pump repair, maintenance, and installation.  Call 215-725-6111 for a free estimate, and read on for our furnace maintenance tips to keep your furnace running at the top of its game.

Safety First

Before you perform any maintenance on your furnace, it’s crucial to make sure you aren’t putting yourself in danger.  Start by checking for black soot around the furnace.  If you find any, contact a HVAC Philly technician as this could indicate a serious carbon monoxide problem.  If not, look at the flames in the burner to verify that there is a constant blue flame.  A flickering orange flame could indicate that something other than natural gas is burning.  Next, smell for any gas leaks.  Natural gas is odorless, but gas companies add a rotten egg smell to it so you can identify any leaks.  If you detect this rotten egg smell, leave your house immediately and call a HVAC Philly technician.  Do not try to fix anything yourself.  Once you’ve gone through an inspection of your furnace, you’re ready to shut off the power system and circuits connected to your furnace so you can begin maintenance.

Replace the Filter                

Replacing your furnace’s filter is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your furnace running smoothly.  The filter prevents dirt and other debris from entering the furnace. When you buy a filter, it will list a recommended amount of time in between replacements.  These times generally vary from 1 to 3 months.  Make sure the filter is facing the right way when you put it in.

Keep it Clean

Even with an air filter, dust and debris can get into your furnace.  You can use a dust brush, damp cloth, and vacuum to clean different parts of your furnace and reduce damages to the system.  The blower, pulleys, and belts, which are beyond the panels that cover the air filter, can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Furnace ducts in forced-air furnaces also often get dirty and can be cleaned by a vacuum.  Finally check your vents, clear any debris with a large brush, and vacuum the waste out.

Check That Thermostat and Call for an Inspection

If you feel like your heating system isn’t working to its full potential, you could have a problem with your thermostat.  Often, old thermostats stop working and need to be replaced. If you feel like your thermostat isn’t working or need help with your furnace inspection or maintenance, call a HVAC Philly technician to come take a look at it.  Our technicians will do a thorough inspection of your heating system and can perform maintenance that will save you money in the long run.  Remember it’s much cheaper to maintain a furnace than it is to repair a broken one.

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