Do you have a furnace? You should know that it’s your responsibility to keep it in top shape. The cool thing is that there are plenty of tricks you can use to make it possible. Here are some of these tricks as given by furnace service professionals:
Keep the filters clean all the time
The purpose of the air filters is to protect the furnace from particulates and dust. The filters ensure that the air flowing through the system is clean and fresh. Due to their location, they tend to accumulate a lot of dirt and if you don’t clean them early enough, plenty of dirt accumulates in them.
When you have a lot of dirt deposited in the units, the furnace works harder than it should, which translates to a high energy bill at the end of the month. An overworking furnace also tends to have a short lifespan which ends up being expensive in the long run as you have to keep on replacing it after a few years.
For you to keep the furnace in top shape, you should make a habit of cleaning the furnace filters at least once a month. If the filters are too dirty or damaged, you should replace them.
Make use of exhaust fans
Running exhaust fans in the bathroom, laundry, and utility rooms come in handy at expelling odors and moisture from the air. When you are using the fans, you should take care that you don’t keep the fans running for too long.
This is because if you let them do it, they can suck a lot of air out of the house and you have to spend more money to heat the new air.
You should use the exhaust fans as a way to reduce the amount of cold air in the house. You only need to be cautious that you don’t run the fans for more than 20 minutes.
Keep the ductwork in top condition
The ductwork is the primary catalyst for air distribution in the house. When the ductwork is poorly insulated or sealed, it leads to energy wastage, which makes the furnace work harder than it should.
For you to increase the efficiency of the furnace, you should hire a professional who will undertake a whole house analysis and identify all the weak areas. Once you have identified the weaknesses, the contractor should go ahead and seal and/or insulate the unit in order to reduce heat loss.
The contractor can also modify the duct system to increase the efficiency of the furnace. When hiring the contractor, take care and ensure that you hire the most experienced and certified one.
Install a programmable thermostat
A programmable thermostat comes in handy when it comes to energy efficiency. The thermostat makes it possible for you to control the air in the house from miles away. During the day, when you aren’t home, the thermostat automatically sets back the temperature so that you save some energy.
When you are out of work and you want to find a warm house, you can set it up virtually and the furnace will warm up the house in your absence.
For you to get the most from the thermostat, ensure that you buy a high-quality one. You also should ensure that the unit is installed by a professional.
Schedule annual tune-ups
At least once a year, hire a heating service repair Falls Church professional to inspect the furnace and fix any issues that might be there. You should note that when a furnace has problems, it tends to consume a lot of energy; therefore, when you tune it up and fix the present problems, it tends to work more efficiently.