Are you concerned about the high cost of heating your home this winter? Ensuring that your furnace runs smoothly and heats effectively is essential for keeping your heating costs in check. A furnace that heats effectively is also less likely to need repairs or suddenly quit working. Luckily, ensuring that your furnace runs smoothly all winter is easy if you follow these simple tips.
Replace or Wash Your Furnace Filter Regularly
Replacing or washing the air filter regularly is one of the biggest keys to ensuring your furnace heats effectively and minimizing the risk of it breaking down. A dirty, clogged air filter will significantly reduce the effectiveness of your furnace, which means it will take much longer to heat your home and use much more energy.
As the filter gets dirty and clogs up, the blower can draw less cool air through it and into the furnace. The less cool air coming into the furnace, the less hot it will produce. Suppose there isn’t sufficient cool air coming in and flowing over the heat exchanger. In that case, your furnace can quickly start overheating and trigger an automatic shutdown.
Generally speaking, you should replace your furnace filter at least once every three months. If you use a reusable and washable filter, it’s recommended to wash it every three months. However, replacing the filter every six to eight weeks is better to ensure your furnace works optimally. Cleaning air filters more than recommended is essential if you own indoor cats or dogs since all the hair they shed will cause the filter to clog up more quickly. One easy way to know if you need to replace the filter is to remove it and hold it up to a light source. If the filter is dark colored or you can’t easily see light through it, it’s time to throw it away and replace it.
Keep All of the Vents in Your Home Open
One mistake many people must correct is closing many supply vents in their homes. The thought behind this is that closing the vents in rooms that are currently unoccupied will allow all of the heat to be directed to the other parts of the home so that they stay warmer. Many people also believe that keeping some vents closed will help lower their heating costs. The opposite is true.
When numerous vents are closed, the hot air quickly builds up in the supply ducts since it has fewer places to flow out of. Too many closed vents increase the pressure in the duct system, making it more difficult for the blower to move air through the ducts. The increased pressure forces the blower to work harder and puts more significant strain on its motor, which can lead to the motor overheating and suffering damage. The engine could also start drawing more power and tripping the circuit breaker. If too many vents are closed, lots of heat can start building up in the furnace and potentially also cause it to overheat and shut down.
If you have one or two rooms you never use, you’re usually okay with closing the vent. However, this depends mainly on the size of your home, as you must always have at least 75% of the vents open. It’s also essential to keep the area around the vents clear and ensure no vents are obstructed by furniture to ensure the air can easily flow out of them.
Schedule a Furnace Tune-up
The most important thing you can do to reduce the risk of your furnace breaking down and ensure it runs smoothly is to schedule a maintenance and tune-up service. Having your heating system professionally serviced every year is an investment that can pay off by helping to extend the life of your furnace and keeping your heating costs lower.
During this service, the technician will complete an inspection to ensure your furnace doesn’t need any repairs. They’ll also ensure that no issues could cause your furnace to work less effectively or put it at risk of breaking down. The technician will also clean all the components like the burners, flame sensor, and blower, allowing your furnace to heat more effectively and work as efficiently as possible.
With over 20 years of experience, Markool Heating & Cooling is the place to turn to for all your furnace maintenance, repair, and installation needs. Our NATE-certified technicians can service and repair any furnace make and model, and we can also help if you need any cooling services in the Frederick area. Call us today to schedule a furnace tune-up or any other HVAC service.
