Heating Maintenance Tips to Help Extend the Lifespan of Your Furnace
Heating maintenance is a necessary step to help prevent major issues with your furnace. By performing a few simple tasks on a regular basis, you can keep your system running efficiently and extend its lifespan.
It is also important to keep your air filters clean. Dirty filters can limit airflow and reduce your heater’s efficiency.
Check the Pilot Light
The pilot light is a small flame that serves as an ignition source for the burner assembly on most furnaces and water heaters. It needs to stay lit to operate safely and efficiently.
If your pilot light doesn’t stay lit, it may be due to an underlying issue that requires professional repair work. The first step to take is to check the thermocouple, which regulates the flow of gas to the burner.
Another potential problem is the intake valve. This could be clogged with debris that makes it difficult for your appliance to get the fuel it needs.
You can try to clear the valve manually by removing it and cleaning it. If this doesn’t solve your problem, it might be time to call a heating technician for professional help.
During heating maintenance, it’s important to follow all of the instructions printed on the appliance. You should also use a spotlight when reading the instructions.
Clean the Furnace
Keeping your furnace clean is essential to maintaining its efficiency and longevity. This includes cleaning out dust and other debris that clogs the blower motor, heat exchanger, and other components inside the unit.
When dirt and debris build up inside the furnace, the blower works harder than it should to push warmed air throughout the home. This wastes energy and causes the system to operate inefficiently.
To keep the furnace clean, inspect and replace the air filter. Hold the filter up to a light source and make sure that there is no visible dust or dirt on the surface.
If there is, then it’s time to replace the filter with a new one. This step is particularly important when using disposable filters, as they may become clogged with dirt and debris over time.
Next, access the fan compartment and blower. Some models have the fan fixed to a track that slides in and out of the compartment for easy access, while others use a direct drive blower assembly.
Check the Thermostat
Thermostats are a great way to control your home’s heating and cooling. They are simple to operate and usually don’t need to be touched very often, once a comfortable room temperature has been established.
During heating maintenance, check your thermostat to make sure it’s working properly. This can help you avoid spending a fortune on repairs later.
Your thermostat works by sensing the temperature in your home and comparing it to a set value, which is then used to turn on your heater or air conditioner. If it’s reading incorrectly, it may be a problem with your thermostat or the wiring inside it.
To test your thermostat, put a regular household thermometer in the room and tape it to the wall, just near the thermostat. If the thermostat reads a different temperature than your thermometer, the thermostat is probably malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.