Ways to Help Extend Your Furnace’s Service Life
Your furnace works hard to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long. Still, like any appliance, it does best with consistent upkeep to ensure it runs smoothly and to reduce the risk of any inconvenient breakdowns. Maintaining your furnace ensures it lasts years longer, especially compared to one that is poorly maintained. It also means lower energy bills!
Here are some useful suggestions to maximize the lifespan of your furnace and maintain peak performance for many winters to come.
Swap Out Your Furnace Filter When Recommended
The filter traps dirt, animal dander and other airborne allergens to prevent them from entering the system’s more sensitive components. Over time, the filter gets clogged with debris, restricting airflow and causing your furnace to operate less efficiently. This unnecessary effort could result in furnace troubles and sometimes permanent system damage.
To keep things running smoothly, remember to check and replace the filter as needed, depending on your heating habits and the type of filter in place.
Invest in Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Another way to reduce your furnace’s overall workload is to take what steps you can to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and other sealing accessories around windows and doors will keep heat from escaping, making it easier for your furnace to hold a comfortable temperature. When your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard, it suffers less wear and tear, prolonging its lifespan.
Schedule Yearly HVAC Tune-Ups
Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional supports your furnace’s reliable operation. During the appointment, your technician examines, services and otherwise tunes up the system for best performance. This proactive service helps identify small issues before they escalate, avoiding costly failures. A regular inspection also improves efficiency, lowering your monthly energy bills.
Maintain a Clean Space Around the Furnace
Keeping the area around your furnace clean promotes better airflow. Make sure the area is cleaned regularly and well away from hazardous materials. This avoids any safety issues, ensuring your furnace performs more efficiently.
Use a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to truly fine-tune the heating in your home, with features like scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re away or in bed. This cuts back on run time, cutting costs and helping preserve the system.
Fix Problems as Soon as You Notice
If you start noticing odd humming, stubborn cold spots or unexpected utility spikes, don’t postpone looking into these signs of trouble. Even small problems can quickly become more severe situations. If left ignored, it could affect the total lifespan of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs stop further damage and keep your system better protected.
Maintain Proper Circulation
Your furnace will only function best when the circulation between supply and return vents is balanced. Sealing off more than 80% of your supply registers can cause excess strain or force your furnace to exert more effort than it should. To help prevent any issues, regularly check that your air vents are open and free from being blocked by any rugs. This enables your furnace to circulate warmth properly.
Set Your Furnace to a Reasonable Temperature
Setting your thermostat too high forces your furnace to run constantly, putting excess stress on the entire system. This constant demand leads to extra wear and tear. To minimize this kind of gradual damage, set your thermostat to a seasonally appropriate temperature—for example between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also adjust the temperature by 8 to 10 degrees while you’re asleep or on a trip. These strategies save energy and prevent any excess wear on your furnace.
Invest in a Modern Furnace When the Time Is Right
If your furnace is outdated and breaks down more often, it may be time to consider a new model. Modern furnaces feature improved performance while reducing energy consumption. Although the initial investment may be higher than a repair, the long-term savings and increased efficiency make it a cost-effective, practical solution.
Trust Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Reliable Furnace Maintenance
Taking care of your furnace avoids any premature, costly failures, enhances its day-to-day operation and can even extend its total potential lifespan. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing specializes in helping you enjoy a comfortable home environment. Our certified technicians deliver prompt, trustworthy service.
If it’s been a while since your last furnace tune-up or if you’re seeking more personalized advice to optimize your furnace, please contact us today!
