There are a lot of places in the home that will likely need some maintenance or upkeep as part of your winterization process. Your furnace is one of the most important things that needs regular maintenance and trying to get them fixed in the winter can be both difficult and expensive.
Furnace maintenance is fairly easy to do even for complete beginners. There are several things that you can do if you want to make sure that your furnace is ready for winter. Here are some of the basics of furnace maintenance that you should keep in mind both for winter and throughout the year.
Furnace System Cleaning
Save money and increase your heating systems efficiency and comfort by following these simple steps to keep your furnace working properly.
Remove the combustion chamber door
Inspect the burner flames
Vacuum out the burner and blower cavities
Remove the blower to clean it
Vacuum and brush the blower blades
Change the furnace filter
Blow dust off the pilot
Clean the flame sensor
Dust the hot surface ignitor without touching it
Inspect the drive belt
Lubricate bearings if necessary
Adjust dampers if necessary
Seal leaky air ducts
Once your furnace is clean and placed back together
Test your thermostat
Make sure that your furnace is turning on and off automatically at the set temperatures
Check to make sure that blower fans are turning correctly
Visually inspect the components for signs of wear, rust, damage and even small cracks
Make sure your registers open and close as expected
Turn on the furnace and let it run briefly to make sure that it is blowing warm air
If you use a house fan, make sure that it is turned off so you don't lose any heat
Hire a Professional
Doing these simple steps can save you time and money. However, this can be a big job for beginners, so if you're not wanting to buy a new furnace or doing the maintenance yourself, consider searching for a professional HVAC company. Some companies may offer pre-winter inspections which can help identify and fix potential issues before they can become a major problem. You and your furnace will be glad that you did.