Winter is just around the corner. Is your furnace ready to handle the extra work it would have to do this season? Every homeowner should know how to maintain their furnace properly. But sadly, most people in Lanarkshire and other areas call a professional plumber and heating engineer because of a broken furnace. f you’re still not sure how to keep your furnace from failing, here are some useful tips that you should remember all year round:
1. Clean or replace your filters
A filter is designed to catch dust, debris, and allergens to keep it from entering your home’s ductwork. It is recommended to replace furnace filters every six weeks or so, depending on how much you use it. If you fail to renew your filters regularly, your furnace will have to work harder to heat the home. And this overexertion can cause it to malfunction and wear out.
2. Check your furnace thermometers
A broken or decalibrated thermometer in the furnace can cause it to malfunction, more specifically, its ability to regulate the temperature in the house. While the thermostat and the furnace thermometer are two completely different things, they need to be constantly in sync to prevent the furnace from turning on and off irregularly.
3. Fix a broken pilot light
When a pilot light is broken or malfunctioning, the furnace will not ignite to distribute heat in the home. Make it a habit to check your pilot light at least once a year, particularly before the wintertime. But if your furnace is already emitting cold air, make sure that your pilot light is lit. Otherwise, have it checked out immediately.
4. Ensure that your blower is running
The blower motor in the furnace pushes the hot air into and throughout your home’s ductwork. If it breaks, which is usually due to clogging or overexertion, the warm air will not circulate in your home. If you have turned on the heating but no heat is coming out of the furnace, check if the blower motor is the problem. It also helps to give this part regular maintenance at least once a year to prevent malfunctions.
5. Check the fuel lines
If your furnace uses natural gas, the gas line that feeds into the system may not be working correctly. When this happens, the furnace usually fails to ignite, or the heating comes out inconsistent. Since messing with fuel lines is extremely dangerous, we recommend that you get a professional to look into this problem.
6. Maintain your furnace regularly
Sometimes, furnace problems can stem from poor or irregular maintenance. Other times, your furnace may just be suffering from normal wear and tear. To prevent problems with your furnace and its components, hire professional maintenance services at least once a year.
A furnace doesn’t just break for no reason, but when it does, it can cost you a lot of money in repairs. That said, it is better to perform preventive maintenance than be stuck with costly repair bills in the future. But when these repairs reach more than 50% of the price of a new furnace, you might be better to buy a new one.
