A good quality furnace doesn’t come cheap, so the last thing any homeowner wants is to replace the unit after a few years.
Did you know you can keep your furnace functioning optimally for decades? Here are some of the things you should do:
Ensure the unit is installed by an experienced professional
Everything begins at the installation. If the unit is improperly installed, there is no way it’s going to give you an excellent service. Your relationship with a furnace service provider should begin before you even go to the stores.
Invite the service provider to your home to help you determine the right size of the furnace you should get. The contractor will also help you choose the best place to locate it.
The area of installation should provide the furnace with proper drainage and air intake. You should note that an improperly installed furnace works harder, which translates to a high energy bill.
Don’t hire the first contractor you come across. Take time to find an experienced professional with several years of experience. Since you will spend some time with the contractor, find someone with a great personality.
You don’t want someone who will bore you when finding the right appliance for your home, do you?
Undertake regular inspections
Installing the best appliance for your home isn’t enough. You need to maintain it. One of the ways of doing it is inspecting it regularly. You can undertake the inspection if you have the skills, but for best results, let an experienced professional handle it.
During the inspection:
- Check the heat exchanger for cracks
- Examine the drainage system
- Test the appliance for carbon monoxide leaks
- Tighten and test the electrical connections
- Clean and lubricate the blower and the other moving parts
- Test the fan motors
- Inspect the venting system and ensure there are no leaks or improper venting
- Remove dust, soot, and dirt from the interior and exterior of the furnace
- Seal the loose ductwork
When you notice a problem, regardless of how minor, fix it immediately.
Replace the air filters as recommended by furnace manufacturers
When you buy a furnace, it comes with a manual on how to operate and maintain it. One of the crucial tasks you should do is to clean the air filters.
Air filters serve a vital role in determining the quality of air that gets into the furnace and in the house. When you continue using dirty filters, the furnace works harder, which translates to high monthly energy bills.
Most manufacturers recommend you replace the air filters every 3-4 months. You can do it sooner if you live in a dusty environment, someone in the house smokes, or you have pets.
Unblock the air registers
If you visit many homes, you will find furniture and other large objects on top of the supply and return registers. When the air registers are blocked, you have airflow issues. Blocked registers also prevent the rooms from heating as well as they should.
Airflow problems make the furnace work too hard. An overworking furnace not only consumes a lot of energy, but it also tends to break down more often, which sees you spending a lot of money on furnace repair.
Do you want to keep off all of these problems? Remove any obstructions near the air registers.
Be on the lookout for any signs of trouble
Unless, in rare cases, furnaces don’t just stop working. They show signs of trouble; then, homeowners ignore them. The most common signs are: strange smells, loud noises, high energy consumption, and others.
Since these problems don’t prevent the furnace from working, many homeowners ignore them, hoping they will go away. Unfortunately, they don’t. In fact, over time, they get worse to the extent the furnace completely stops working.
For you to have peace of mind, the furnace is working at its best; you should fix the problems as soon as you notice them, regardless of how minor they are.
You can fix the issues by yourself if you have the skills, but if you aren’t handy, let an experienced heating service repair Falls Church professional handle it.
Things can go wrong during the maintenance, so it’s wise to work with an insured professional. This way, you are sure that in the event of an accident, the insurance company will handle the damages.
