When you’ve grown up with furnaces, HVAC systems, and hot water heaters, it can be hard to imagine life without them. That is, it’s hard to imagine right up to the moment your furnace breaks down on a chilly winter’s night. To put it simply, there’s no better time to learn about maintaining your HVAC system and furnace than the weeks before winter.
But unless you’re a home improvement expert, you probably have no idea how to maintain your home’s furnace. To stay warm this season, just use these furnace care tips to get your home heated.
Clean or Replace Your Filters
If you thought changing filters ended with your air conditioning system, you would unfortunately be wrong. If your furnace filter is dirty, it can obstruct airflow and even affect the air quality in your home. Most installation experts recommend cleaning or changing these filters once every four to eight weeks.
Check the Oil and Blower Belt
Believe it or not, oil is important in more engines than just the one in your car. If your blower engine seems to be working overtime, add a few drops of oil to make sure things are running smoothly. In addition, cracked or worn blower belts will require replacement.
Keep Air Vents Free of Obstructions
It only makes sense that blocked vents mean no airflow in your home. If you’re experiencing ventilation issues, you should ensure that nothing is obstructing the flow of air into your home. Check the exterior vents of your home, but also make sure there aren’t any stray piles of laundry or other items covering up air vents inside the house. If you’re concerned about the heating system’s vents or air quality, you should call HVAC services for an inspection and possibly a good air duct cleaning.
Remove Any Flammable Objects From Around Your Furnace
Behind the furnace may be a good place to stash birthday presents, but everything should be absolutely clear of that area while your heat is on. Any boxes, clothing, paints, or other highly flammable objects shifted over the summer need to be relocated immediately.
Have Your HVAC System Inspected
The installation experts who initially put your HVAC system in place should be called at least twice a year for inspections, and now is the perfect time to do it. Twice yearly inspections can help reduce a variety of problems, such as built up soot in vents or burners.
Maintaining your furnace this winter may seem like a lot of work, but if you get started with an inspection early on, you’ll definitely be nice and warm. And, remember, if you’re looking for heating and air conditioning installation experts in Knoxville, contact Pioneer Heating and Air before you run into an HVAC emergency.
