You trust your furnace to keep you warm all winter, and with the right maintenance your furnace is sure the be up to the job. There are lot of furnace tips out there to help you get more out of your heating system, save money on energy bills, and make sure your furnace is working smoothly and safely. The best of the furnace tips, though, is simply a bit of preventative maintenance.
There is a lot you can do yourself, but you should also have your furnace inspected and cleaned by a professional before the worst of winter. Not only does a regular inspection help you avoid problems down the line, a regular professional cleaning will keep your heating & air conditioning system working smoothly and help you heat your home as efficiently as possible. Give us a call and we can schedule a cleaning, today!
Preventative Maintenance Furnace Tips
Now to get to the DIY furnace tips, the first and easiest thing you can do is replace the filter in your furnace once a month. Depending on how much dirt, dust, and other particles, like pet dander, are in the air, you can replace your filter more or less often. For most homes, once a month is sufficient though.
Another of the most important furnace tips is to learn more about your furnace, how it works, how to identify different components, and how to tell when there is a problem. Learning to visually inspect your furnace can help you catch small problems before they become big ones. Look for built up soot, which can indicate a malfunction. The flame in the burner should be solid and blue. If you notice any differences, get in touch with your HVAC team right away. Similarly, you should become familiar with different furnace noises and what they mean. These furnace tips will not only help you identify when there is a problem that needs to be addressed, they can also help you communicate with your HVAC service team and describe the problem to them more clearly.
This final section of DIY furnace tips is all about preventing home heating fires. There is a reason so many furnace problems are best left to a professional and that is because furnaces pose some fire risk. So, make sure to remove clutter and especially flammable material like paper and cardboard away from your furnace whenever possible. You should also be mindful of where you store flammable liquids like cleaning chemicals and gasoline, and never store them near your furnace.
When to Get a Professional
With these furnace tips in mind, you should be able to keep your furnace working well all winter. Plus, employing furnace tips like changing your air filters and having a regular system cleaning will help you save money this winter. A more efficient HVAC system will reduce energy costs and keep you cozy.
For more serious furnace issues, however, such as leaks, gas buildup, component failure, or electrical issues, you should get in touch with an HVAC service team right away. As our previous furnace tips noted, there is always a potential fire risk associated with furnaces, and electrical problems bring their own issues too.
Find Out More Furnace Tips from Our St. Louis HVAC Experts
Use these furnace tips to keep your heating & air conditioning system in great shape, year round. You can also get in touch with Galmiche & Sons in the greater St. Louis area if you need help with a serious furnace problem or have any furnace related questions!