The heating season is fast approaching and it’s important to have your furnace in good working order. There are several basic maintenance items that most homeowners can do to keep their furnace running smoothly and safely.
The first thing to do is flip the electrical power furnace switch to “Off.” Remove the combustion chamber door by lifting up and pulling it out. Next, open the burner cover and check the flames. They should be fairly even and blue. If they are yellow, this is a sign of dirty burners. This can also mean that the heat exchanger is leaking and should be professionally checked by an experienced technician.
It’s a good idea to change the filter on your furnace https://www.eheatcool.com/services/heating/furnaces/maintenance/ every month during the heating season and to vacuum the blower and blower motor once a year. This will help to keep the blower running smoothly and efficiently by reducing wear on the motor bearings. A drop of oil in the blower motor can also help to keep it lubricated.
Inspecting the pilot light is another easy and worthwhile home furnace maintenance step. If it is burning blue, the system is in good working order. If the flame is yellow or a different color, it could be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning and should be checked by a professional.
Another safety precaution is to inspect the drainage tube on your natural gas or propane furnace. This tube allows water to drain away from the gas burners and into a drip pan outside the furnace. If the tube is clogged, it can cause the burners to overheat and leak, which is a dangerous situation.
The flame sensor on your hot surface igniter can become coated with dust, which can prevent the unit from lighting. To clean the sensor, pull it out of its bracket and carefully wipe it with fine emery cloth. Be careful, as it is very fragile and can break easily.
Finally, the blower fan helps to circulate the heated air throughout the house and make sure it is distributed evenly. The blower fan can get very dirty, so it is a good idea to vacuum the blower and blower motor compartment once a year with a shop vac or extension hose.
Other home furnace maintenance tips include ensuring that all the exposed ductwork is properly sealed and plugged. This will help to prevent cold air from entering the home and hot air from escaping.
It is also a good idea to have the thermostat batteries changed at the beginning of each heating season. Fresh batteries will ensure that the thermostat will trigger your furnace to turn on when you need it to warm up the house. It is also a good idea to have a thermometer in the home to monitor indoor temperatures. This will allow you to quickly detect and correct any temperature problems. These simple tips are well within the abilities of most homeowners, and can be a great way to keep your home furnace in tip-top shape and save money on energy bills.