Helping Your Heater Survive Until Next Winter
As the flowers begin to bloom and the sun stays out a little longer, most of us are ready to shut off the thermostat and forget about our heating systems until the first frost of October. However, your furnace has been hard at work all winter long keeping your family warm and safe. To make certain that your system lasts for years to come, take a few minutes to show it some gratitude in the spring by performing some basic maintenance tasks.
Swapping Out the Dirty Filter
The absolute best thing you can do for your furnace right now is to pull out that old, gray air filter and replace it with a fresh one. Throughout the winter, your filter catches hair, skin cells, and pet dander. But eventually, it gets so clogged that the furnace has to strain just to breathe. When the motor has to work twice as hard to pull air through a wall of dust, it creates friction and heat that can put extra strain on the blower motor and other components. You can usually find the filter slot right where the large return duct meets the main unit. Sliding in a new one takes less than a minute. If you hold your old filter up to a light and cannot see through it, you know you are making a great choice for your household’s health by tossing it in the trash.
Clearing the Dust Around the Burners
Even if you have a top-quality filter, tiny dust particles can still find their way inside of your system and settle on the components. This can trap heat where it does not belong and can either cause your system to work harder or burn out completely. If you see a layer of dust at the base of your system, you can remove it with a vacuum cleaner that has a long hose. Keeping the area around the furnace clear of laundry piles or storage boxes also helps the system stay cool and prevents a potential fire hazard in your utility closet.
Checking the Exterior Exhaust Pipes
If you have a high-efficiency furnace, you likely have plastic white pipes that stick out of the side of your house to vent out gases and pull in fresh air. With the spring weather comes the birds who will try to build nests in these openings. Leaves and garden mulch can also create blockages. Check these pipes and clear any obstructions that you find. Failure to perform this task can cause your furnace to shut down to protect itself from overheating, and you will need to make a service call that you could have avoided.
Taking an hour to perform some basic maintenance is the best way to ensure you are not stuck shivering and waiting for a repairman when the first cold snap hits. Once you confirm that all is well, you can close that utility room door and tuck your furnace away safely for its summer nap. If you have concerns or require furnace services, contact Ridge Heating & Air Conditioning in Panama City, FL.
