How to Maintain Your Furnace

The winter months are challenging for homeowners for several reasons. During the colder seasons in North Carolina, a home furnace provides much needed warmth. However, most people hardly pay any attention to how it works until one day they come home to a cold house. If you are one of these people, read below to understand how a furnace works and tips to help maintain your home furnace.

How the Furnace Works

There are different types of furnaces, but they all work the same way.  The outside air enters the furnace through a vent where the air is filtered to remove dust and debris. Then, an enclosed space called the plenum stores the air. After, the filtered air is pushed into the burners where the air is heated. The blower forces the heated air into the ductwork where it is distributed into your home. This process repeats until the heat reaches the required level, (thermometer temperature) and stops until heating is necessary again.

How to Maintain A Home Furnace

While it may cost you a little to have your furnace checked, regular maintenance is required to keep your system operating smoothly. A technician will thoroughly inspect your furnace and inform you about any potential issues that might strain your wallet in the future. Here are some tips to help keep the furnace in optimal condition:

• Evaluate and clean the air filter
• Test furnace controls
• Regularly oil moving components
• Check for corrosion on the unit
• Check whether the burners are operating correctly
• Inspect thermostat settings
• Look for clogs in the furnace condensate drain
• Check electrical connections

Furnace inspections can also help you to save money every month on energy bills. Your furnace’s life can significantly decrease if not maintained properly. Otherwise, your system should last for up to 15 years. Here are more tips to save money in the winter months:

Reverse Ceiling Fans

As you probably know, hot air rises. Did you also know that you can push it back down to its original position by reversing the ceiling fan’s blades? This technique is particularly effective for homes with high ceilings. It’s a simple way of reducing electric bills by up to 10%.

Inspect Your Insulation

Insulation is usually placed in attics, walls, and crawl spaces. It’s made to keep the warm or cool air inside your home. Inadequate insulation could allow warm air to leak out. This can cost you a lot of money on energy bills. Fixing the weaker areas of insulation can immediately help save money.

Let In The Sunshine

Leave your shades up all day long, letting the sun’s rays naturally warm your home. This can help reduce expenses. However, make sure to close them at night to shield your home from the nights chilly weather.

Lower Your Thermostat

Before you step out of your home for long periods of time, lower your thermostat. The closer the temperature is to outside conditions, the less your unit will run.

Optimize Furnace Burners

Rust and corrosion caused by the furnace’s burners is the most obvious indicator of energy loss. This can be caused by a leak in the condensate and fortunately is an easy fix.

Replace Your Old Furnace

If your furnace is inefficient, you may be ready for an upgrade. Replacing your furnace with a modern, more efficient model can reduce your energy bill by approximately 25%. This can save you considerable cash during the system’s lifetime.

To make sure your furnace stays in optimal condition, we suggest getting it checked by a professional. As always, make sure they’re licensed and insured, have positive online reviews, and have a work satisfaction guarantee. Follow along with us at Coastal Property Inspections for more home tips and tricks as we try to help your home function as best as it can!