5 Things You Should Be Doing To Maintain Your Furnace

Your furnace may run smoothly without having to do much, but a lack of maintenance can result in an unnecessary repair. Here are a few things that you should be doing to ensure that your furnace will work properly.  

Change The Air Filter As Instructed

Every furnace is going to be different when it comes to how often to replace the air filter. Some require that it is done monthly by using a basic air filter, while others have air filters that can be replaced annually. Make sure you stay on top of this because all of the air in your home passes through this filter. A clogged filter can result in inefficiencies that cause premature furnace failure.

Clean Out The Interior

The interior of the furnace can also have a lot of dust collected inside it, which can cause the HVAC system to run inefficiently. You'll want to open the service panel on the furnace and use a shop vacuum to clean out the inside. A long attachment will help you reach inside the furnace and get the dust that is resting on the various parts. 

Clean The Ductwork

The ductwork of your home should also occasionally be cleaned, but it is more important to do after some situations. If you have recently done a major home construction project, there is likely more debris in the ductwork than normal. If you have found mold in your home that you have removed, ductwork cleaning is also important to ensure that there are no mold spores hiding in there. 

Seal Any Ductwork Leaks

The ductwork should also be inspected for leaks, which are places where air could be escaping the ductwork before it reaches a vent. You can cover seams with a special metallic tape that is going to form a seal around it or put it over places where the ductwork has a hole where the air is leaking out. 

Keep The Furnace Well Ventilated

Do you have a furnace that is located in a utility closet? You'll want to make sure that the furnace still gets airflow. This can be done by creating a gap at the bottom of the door so that air can move into the space and help with ventilation. If the furnace is located elsewhere, make sure that items are not stacked in front of the air intake port and cause a problem. 

Reach out to an HVAC company, such as American Services, for help with maintaining your HVAC system. 


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