One of the nice things about home heating systems is that they are usually trouble free and easy to maintain. The downside to this is that many people forget that they need to do anything at all in terms of upkeep. No matter what type of furnace you have, there are several things you can do to keep your heating system in top condition.
If left unmaintained your furnace will have a shorter life. There are some aspects of the maintenance that are difficult and best left to professional HVAC service people. But most is very simple and any homeowner can perform it. Keeping your furnace running properly can save you a lot of money on heating costs and helps avoid expensive repairs in the future.
Dirt and dust accumulation is the biggest enemy of you home furnace. Build up will lower efficiency and waste precious fuel. If the build up gets bad enough it can even cause a hazardous situation by causing your furnace to overheat. Dirt affects all three basic components of your furnace, so cleaning is the most important part of regular maintenance. The three parts of the furnace that should be cleaned are: the filter system, the blower and the motor.
It’s best to replace your filter rather than clean it in most cases (if you have a permanent filter, you’ll need to clean it), but whichever you do just be sure to it. Replace it at the start of the heating season and every thirty to sixty days thereafter. To check the filter, take it out and hold it up to the light. If it looks clogged, replace it with a new filter of the same type and size regardless of how long it’s been in use.
If your system uses disposable filters, don’t bother trying to clean them because it probably won’t work out well. Instead look at the size of the filter that is printed on the edge of the frame and replace it with the same. An arrow on the edge of the frame indicates the correct direction of airflow through the filter. Air flows from the return air duct toward the blower, so the arrow on the filter should point away from the return air duct and toward the blower.
If you have a permanent filter you need to read the manufacturers specifications on how to clean it. They are usually attached to the furnace housing and should be fairly simple. Here is a simple step by step on how to replace your filter.
First, look for the metal panel at the front of your furnace that is below the return air duct and in between the duct and blower system. On certain models it is marked on others it might look like a lid. Once you have located it, slip it off the holding hooks or unscrew it. On some heating units, filters are exposed; in that case, just slip the filter up and out of the U-shape tracks that hold it in place. Then examine it, replace or clean it, depending on type.
With that done you should clean the blower assembly, belts, pulleys, and motor housing. This does not need to be done every time you change the filter, but should be done at the start of the heating season. To clean your blower, remove the panel that covers the filter to gain access to the blower or panel on the front of your furnace. This panel may be slip-fit on hooks or held in place by a series of retaining screws. Access to the inside of your furnace blower is usually gained by sliding out the fan unit, which is held on a track by screws. Use compressed air to clean as much as you can get to. Use a cloth to remove any dust chunks left behind by the compressed air and you’re all set.