Your furnace is an important part of your house, but it's also something that can sometimes be taken for granted, at least until the moment it stops working. If you want to ensure that your furnace will continue to work as it should for years to come, here are a few tips that might help.

Don't Wait Until You See Signs of Trouble

When winter arrives, so does heating season. This is a busy time of year for furnace repair specialists, and there's no guarantee you'll be able to get an appointment immediately. If you wait until you see that something might actually be wrong with your furnace during the heating season, you might not be able to get an instant repair. For best results, contact a furnace repair specialist during the heating off-season so that maintenance can be performed before you really need to use your furnace. This will also ensure that you can go into the next heating season feeling confident that your family will be OK all winter long.

Keep an Eye on Dust

While there might not be a ton of things you can do for your furnance on your own if you are not adept at maintenance tasks, there are at least some smaller things you can try. Most furnaces are located in the basement of the house, and it's common for dust to build up over time. Take the protective cover off of your furnace once a month during the heating season and try and ensure that any obvious dust or debris is removed. You can use an old toothbrush or paint brush to gently scrub the dust accumulation away. A portable vacuum will help if the dust build up is severe.

Change the Filter

If your furnace gets a lot of use, it might be worth it to have a repairman come out for another maintenance check during the middle of the season. But one more thing you can do on your own is to change the furnace's filter. A clean filter ensures the furnace will run as smoothly as possible, increasing efficiency and decreasing your heating bill. The filter should be changed every one to three months based on your usage.

If you want to keep yourself and your family warm all winter long, get into the habit of regularly cleaing your furnace and changing the filter as needed. For more complex tasks, schedule an appointment with a furnace repair specialist today.

Share