You may already know this, but it can’t hurt to say it again – the heating system you have for your home may well be the most expensive system you have installed. And what’s more, it’s not only expensive initially – it continues to be a significant monthly expense, as it accounts for 45% of your energy bill. It would be a pity if you couldn’t prolong its lifespan! These are reasons enough to keep it cleaned and maintained regularly. If your furnace has periodic maintenance and checkups, this is a good way of ensuring that it is in good condition and you won’t encounter a problem in the dead of night. Unfortunately, many people wait until there is a significant problem before calling the professionals in – and by this time, you will be faced with even more expense than if you prevented it in the first place. The truth is, if you care for your furnace regularly, you are less likely to experience downtime. But how do you make sure your furnace is in tip-top shape? Here are some top tips for the proper maintenance of your furnace.
Decrease your heating load
One significant way you can properly maintain your furnace is to reduce the heating load of your home. If your home has any weakness in its structure, this is likely to let cold air in and warm air out. But when you seal your home properly, it can decrease your home’s heat load (the amount of heat you need to maintain a comfortable temperature). If you reside in Illinois, for instance, you can identify any huge source of heat loss in your home with the help of furnace repair Aurora, IL specialists, who will conduct an audit of your home’s energy to locate any weak spots.
The heating specialist will use infrared cameras and special equipment to determine where your home’s biggest heat loss occurs, and they will focus on where you can make improvements as well (and how). A heat retention solution, for instance, would be to use weather stripping for your doors and windows, ductwork insulation and sealing, and insulating the attic.
Clean your system’s ductwork and vents
All the systems that keep your household running efficiently benefit from one thing: proper cleaning. That said, clean and maintain your system’s ductwork and vents regularly. At the beginning of the season, you can walk around your home or property and identify if all the vents are easy to access. Then examine the registers on the floor – are they free from dust, hair, and other debris? Remove the registers and vacuum them to clean up the dirt and dust. You can also benefit from complete ductwork cleaning, particularly if you have recently gone through renovations or haven’t cleaned them since you moved in.
Remove flammable items surrounding your furnace
The furnace you have in your home is probably located in a basement, storage area, or crawl space. But remember that the furnace shouldn’t have stuff surrounding it – especially if the items are flammable! So remove any flammable items around your furnace, which include paint, clothes, gasoline, aerosols, boxes, furniture, and other items in your household. Keep the furnace free from debris, and you will have additional peace of mind.
