Tips to Ensure a Long Furnace Lifespan
Your furnace works hard to keep your home at a warm, comfortable temperature all winter long. Still, like any appliance, it does best with routine care from trained technicians to ensure it runs smoothly and to reduce the risk of any inconvenient breakdowns. Taking care of your furnace can help it last years longer, especially compared to one left alone. It also means lower energy bills!
1. Keep the Area Near Your Furnace Clear
Keeping the space around your furnace clean promotes steady, unobstructed airflow. Make sure the area is kept dust-free and well clear of hazardous materials. This prevents fire hazards, ensuring your furnace performs more smoothly.
2. Keep Up with Routine HVAC Maintenance
Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional ensures your furnace’s reliable operation. During the appointment, the technician inspects, services and otherwise tunes up the system for best performance. This proactive service detects small issues before they escalate, avoiding costly breakdowns. Regular maintenance also improves efficiency, saving you more money on energy bills.
3. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Another way to minimize your furnace’s overall workload is to take what steps you can to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and sealing around windows and doors will reduce heat loss, allowing your furnace to reach a comfortable temperature. As long as your furnace runs efficiently, it undergoes less wear and tear, increasing its lifespan.
4. Address Any Repairs Immediately
If you notice strange sounds, temperature inconsistencies or unexpected utility spikes, don’t delay checking out these concerns. Even small issues can quickly develop into more severe breakdowns. If left unresolved, it could affect the total lifespan of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs stop further damage and keep your system safe.
5. Choose Energy-Efficient Temperature Settings
Setting your thermostat too high forces your furnace to run constantly, putting unnecessary strain on the entire system. This constant demand results in extra wear and tear. To minimize this kind of gradual damage, set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature—for example between 68-72° F. You can also adjust the temperature by a few degrees while you’re asleep or on a trip. These strategies reduce total heating expenses and prevent any excess wear on your furnace.
6. Replace the Filter Regularly
The filter captures dust, fur and other airborne airborne contaminants to prevent them from entering the system’s more sensitive components. Over time, the filter becomes blocked with debris, restricting airflow and making your furnace to exert more effort. This added strain can lead to more problems and sometimes more serious issues.
To maintain efficient performance, remember to check and replace the filter around every 1 to 3 months, depending on your heating habits and the type of filter you use.
7. Consider Replacing an Old Furnace
As soon as your furnace is old and requires seemingly constant maintenance, it may be time to replace it. Modern furnaces feature higher performance than ever while still lowering heating costs. Although the upfront cost may be higher than a repair, the total lifetime repair costs and better performance make it a smart choice.
8. Consider Trying a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat lets you set precise temperatures in your home, through features such as scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re away or sleeping. This reduces the time your system is running, saving energy and minimizing strain.
9. Ensure Balanced Airflow
Your furnace will only perform at its peak when the circulation between supply and return vents is balanced. Obstructing the majority of your supply registers can result in heat buildup or force your furnace to work itself too hard. To help keep things running smoothly, regularly check that your air vents are open and free from being blocked by any furniture. This enables your furnace to distribute heat properly.
Choose Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Inc. to Keep Your Furnace Running
Taking care of your furnace avoids any premature, costly failures, improves long-term performance and can even extend its total potential lifespan. Geisel Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Inc. specializes in helping you maintain a warm and comfortable home. Our experienced technicians deliver fast, truly Expert service.
If it’s been a while since your last heating tune-up or if you’re looking for more personalized advice to strengthen your furnace, please contact us today!
