Furnace Maintenance a Necessary Homeowner's Chore
If you want your heating system to run optimally
and last for years, you will have to conduct some routine
maintenance on your furnace. Faulty settings, dirty filters and
congested burners can all wreck havoc on the efficiency and
operation of a furnace. Regardless of whether you have a forced air
heating system or some other furnace type in place, you should
replace the filters on a monthly basis and have a certified quality
inspector come out once a year to test your furnace. Failure to
maintain your heating system could result in high repair costs and
even dangerous situations for your family.
Top preventative maintenance you should conduct on your furnace
includes lubricating applicable moving parts in the system; cleaning
the air filters, motors, fan and burners; testing for carbon
monoxide leaks; and inspecting the blower, fan belt, safety
controls, gas pilot light and piping and even the thermostat.
Carbon monoxide testing is essential as the heat exchangers of a
furnace have the possibility of releasing carbon monoxide gas. This
gas is poisonous and undetectable so if you were sleeping and this
gas was released, you might never wake up. The heat exchanger
surfaces can collect dust and other debris which might hinder its
operation so it is important to vacuum and dust the surface a few
times a year. If possible, have a qualified HVAC inspector check the
exchanger and the rest of the system in the late summer before using
the heater for the first time that season. At this time, the
inspector could even oil necessary parts and check the fan belt for
you.
While you have the inspector out, have him check out the burners as
they are accountable for heating the exchangers which in turn blows
warm air through the duct work in your home. When the burners do not
work, the furnace will not operate efficiently. If you believe you
can check the burners yourself, inspect the flame at the pilot
light. Clean burning fuel with produce a blue flame while a hot,
unclean fuel will burn a reddish-yellow color. When this non-blue
color exists, it usually means the burners are corroding or becoming
clogged from rust.
The fan belt drive for the blower in the furnace should also be
inspected yearly. This is an easy task for even the most hesitant
do-it-yourselfer. While a frayed fan belt is not a danger to you or
the furnace's operation, it does reduce efficiency. Therefore, it is
important to replace a frayed belt as soon as possible to increase
efficiency and reduce the threat of the belt splitting apart.
Another maintenance task to consider for your furnace is checking
and replacing the filters as needed. It is best to check them once a
month. Some filters are reusable and require that you wash out the
dust accumulation and then dry it before placing it back in the
furnace unit. With disposable filters, you can toss the dirty one
and replace it with a new one so you can ensure the dust and
allergens released into the air by the furnace are kept to a
minimum.
Lubrication at key points in the furnace is essential to quiet
operation of the appliance. Plus, it will increase the life span as
well and reduce eventual repair costs. Lubrication reduces strain on
the motor because the parts are not sticking or laboring.
Proper furnace maintenance is a necessary homeowner's chore. If you
want your heating system to last for years with minimal repairs,
maintain the system or hire a qualified technician.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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