Dealing With Furnace Problems

3 Steps You Can Take To Reduce The Risk Of Damaging Your Furnace

9 June 2020 by Eliza Chapman

When the weather is cold outside, you don't want to worry if your furnace will make it until heating season is over. While unexpected breakdowns occur sometimes, especially when your furnace is old, you can reduce the risk of malfunctions and costly repairs by taking good care of your heating system. Here are three steps you can take to keep your furnace in good shape and prevent unnecessary damage to the equipment.

1. Change The Filter Monthly

When your furnace runs daily, you may need to change the filter once a month. If you have several pets in the house or your home is dusty, you may need to change it more often. If you're not sure if the filter is clean or dirty, hold it against the light and look for dust. Change the filter when needed so your furnace has enough airflow to work properly.

If the filter gets clogged with dust, dust can be sucked into the blower fan and cause it to bog down and overheat the motor. If that happens, your furnace might need repairs that could have been avoided by maintaining a clean filter.

2. Call For Service Without Delay

If your furnace makes banging noises or other unusual sounds or if it isn't heating your home very well, call a heating repair company right away. Getting repairs done promptly makes you more comfortable in your home, and it also prevents costly damage to your furnace. Running your furnace when it's malfunctioning can cause other parts to wear out, and what would have been an affordable repair could turn into a more costly expense.

3. Have The Combustion Area Cleaned Annually

The combustion part of a gas furnace needs to be cleaned regularly. Soot builds up on the parts over time, and that can cause them to malfunction if the soot isn't cleaned off in time. Your furnace may keep shutting itself down when there are problems with the ignition or burners due to soot buildup, so a good way to help your furnace make it through a long heating season is to have a technician clean out the combustion area as a preventative maintenance measure. Otherwise, the cleaning may need to be done as an emergency repair when your furnace stops working and it's cold outside.

While the combustion area and the blower parts are common places your furnace can experience malfunctions, there are several components to your heating system that can need to be repaired when your home won't stay warm in the winter. There could be a duct leak or thermostat malfunction in addition to problems with the furnace, so call a heating repair professional to figure out the problem and make repairs before your furnace stops working completely.

Reach out to heating repair professionals in your area. 

Share

Search