Once you learn how to maintain a Furnace, you will save considerable costs on Furnace repairs. All you need to know are the basics of simple furnace maintenance.
A forced air furnace is a heating system that produces heat and uses a fan to circulate warm air throughout your home, but a Furnace is also one of the most expensive appliances in your house.
“According to Architectural Digest – the average cost to replace a furnace is $4,696″.
Forced-air furnaces are the most common heating system today. They can be powered by natural gas, oil, or electricity. The most popular by far is the “Natural Gas” Furnace, which this article will highlight.
Furnace Check-Up: Maintaining your forced air furnace is essential to ensure that it operates efficiently and safely.
These six simple tips will help you extend your furnace’s life, keeping your home warm and comfortable all winter.
How To Maintain Forced Air Furnace:
1) Replace Furnace Air filter Regularly
The air filter in your forced air furnace is one of the most essential parts of the system. It helps remove dust, pollen, and other pollutants from the air before circulating throughout your home.
A dirty air filter can restrict airflow, which can cause your furnace to work harder and use more energy. It can also lead to poor indoor air quality.
The best way to determine how often to change your air filter is to consult your furnace owner’s manual. However, as a general rule, you should change your air filter every 30-60 days.
Note: You may need to change your air filter more often if you have pets or allergies.
2) Clean the Blower Compartment
The blower fan is located in your forced air furnace’s blower compartment. Over time, dust and debris can build up in the blower compartment, reducing airflow and efficiency.
It is highly recommended that you visually inspect your furnace’s blower compartment during a furnace check. To do so, follow the instructions below.
To “Clean” the Blower Compartment in your furnace, you will need to;
- Turn off the power to your furnace.
- Open the access panel to the blower compartment.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris from the compartment.
- Wipe down the interior dust or cobwebs from the compartment with a damp cloth.
- Replace the access panel.
3) Inspect Burners in Furnace.
The burners in your forced air furnace are responsible for heating the air circulating throughout your home.
Over time, the burners can become dirty or clogged, and spiders can build nests in and around them, reducing efficiency and increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
To Inspect the Burners, you will need to:
- Turn off the power to your furnace.
- Open the access panel to the burner compartment.
- Use a flashlight to inspect the heating burners for any signs of dirt, debris, or damage.
- Clean the burners with a brush or vacuum cleaner if you see any dirt, debris, or damage.
- Replace the access panel.
4) Check the Pilot Light
The pilot light is a small flame that ignites the main burners in your forced-air furnace. If it goes out, your furnace will not work.
To Check the Pilot Light, you will need to:
- Turn off the power to your furnace.
- Open the access panel to the burner compartment.
- Look for a small flame near the burners.
- If you do not see a flame, use a match or lighter to relight the pilot light.
- Once the pilot light is lit, turn the power to your furnace.
5). Clean the Condensation line on the Furnace twice a year.
Pour water into the condensation drain.
Once the water runs clear through the drain, Pour 1 cup of Vinegar or place a Drain Line Tablet into the condensation line after pouring in water.
A Drain line Tablet package costs less than $10 and lasts three years. (See link in the FAQ section below).
Follow this Video to Clean Your Furnace Condensation Drain.
6). Have your Furnace Inspected and Serviced Annually
If you don’t feel comfortable doing your heating inspection, you may want to hire a Pro to do the work.
Having your forced air furnace inspected and serviced by a qualified technician at least once a year is essential. A heating inspection will help ensure your furnace operates safely and efficiently.
How Much Does a Furnace Inspection Cost? If you Google search your local area for “furnace inspections” or “furnace inspection near me,” you should find multiple contractors listed, many of which offer “Deals” for furnace inspections.
A heating inspection usually costs between $80 and $100.
Here is a Typical Ad for Furnace Maintenance (In Minnesota) For Reference only.
The Furnace Inspection is just that: An inspection, parts, and additional labor are not included.
Be sure to look at Google reviews, and only hire a high-rated and trustworthy mechanical contractor to inspect, as some companies use the inspection to get in the door.
It’s also important to know what the inspection “includes,” such as a new filter, vacuuming the compartment, etc.
During an annual inspection, the technician should include the following (but not always):
- Check the air filter
- Clean the blower compartment
- Inspect the burners
- Check the pilot light
- Test the safety controls
- Make any necessary repairs (parts and labor are extra)
These simple tips can help keep your forced air furnace in good working order for many years.
Additional Tips – Troubleshooting Forced Air Furnace:
- Turn off the power to the furnace before you start troubleshooting. This will help to prevent electrical shock.
- Be careful when working around the furnace. The furnace is hot and can contain sharp edges.
- Do not attempt to repair the furnace yourself if you are not qualified. A qualified technician will have the knowledge and experience to do so safely and adequately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Are The Best DIY Tips to Maintain Furnace?
This is a short list of the best maintenance you can do on your furnace:
- Inspect Burner Flames
- Keep Blower Clean (Use Vacuum)
- Change Furnace Filter Regularly (30-60 days)
- Keep Flame Sensor and Pilot free of dust
- Inspect the blower drive belt for wear
- Vacuum Burners
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Furnace?
Failing to keep your furnace clean and free of dust and dirt will cause undo wear on furnace parts and result in a shorter life span for your HVAC system.
How Often Should You Drain the Condensation Line on a Furnace?
HVAC professionals recommend draining the condensation line on your furnace twice a year. This is a super simple procedure; however, failure to do so can lead to buildup or a blockage, causing poor operation and spills onto the floor.
Conclusion
We highly recommend using this checklist to do annual maintenance on your furnace. Many of these tasks are quick and easy but can make a massive difference in the efficiency of your forced air furnace.
Whether you choose DIY furnace maintenance or hire a Pro, you’ll be miles ahead vs. doing nothing.
Remember the adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”?
When it comes to maintaining your furnace, an annual furnace inspection is more like; “10 minutes of inspection worth hundreds of dollars of repair costs.”
Additional Reading & Resources for Homeowners
- How to Remove Hard Water Stains From Toilets
- How To Remove a Dishwasher (Before New One Arrives!) – BestHomeGear.com
- How To Replace a Lavatory Faucet
- How To Connect Rain Barrels and Save Water – Besthomegear.com
- How To Get Rid Of Ants Permanently – Besthomegear.com
- How do you clean and change your Lawn Mower spark plug? – BestHomeGear.com
