4 Furnace Maintenance Tasks To Improve Efficiency and Decrease Risk of Fire

12/17/2020 (Permalink)

Don't wait until a problem occurs to start caring for your furnace

Your furnace is a useful way to heat your North Aurora, IL, home during the winter months, but it also tends to be a major expense. It probably uses more energy than the other appliances in your home. However, with the right maintenance, you can improve the efficiency of the furnace, keep your costs down, and avoid furnace malfunctions. In addition to these benefits, regular maintenance that includes fire cleaning helps prevent home fires.

Basic Maintenance Tasks

Don't wait until a problem occurs to start caring for your furnace. Perform the following steps regularly and more frequently when necessary:

• Replace the filter. Clean filters remove unwanted dust, particles, pollen, mold spores, and more. When filters are clogged and dirty, airflow to the heater is reduced, so the appliance doesn't run as efficiently and is at greater risk for starting a fire. This task should be completed about once a month.
• Clean vents throughout the home. Dirty or covered vents also reduce airflow to the furnace, decreasing appliance efficiency. This loss of airflow can also cause damage to the furnace.
• Schedule regular dust, dirt, and smoke cleaning of the heating and cooling system. Anything that gets into the ductwork, vents, and registers may get into the furnace, decreasing efficiency and increasing the risk of a home fire.
• Move any flammable objects away from vents and the furnace. Of course, keeping the area around vents and the furnace free allows for plenty of airflow. In addition to this, it further reduces the risk of fire.
• Sometimes homeowners store clothing, chemicals, or paperwork near the furnace, but these items should never be stored near this appliance or the water heater.

Experienced homeowners understand the importance of regular furnace maintenance. While some tasks need to be done once a month, others can be completed annually.

Time To Get Started
If you've missed some maintenance steps, it isn't too late to get started. If you've noticed smoke damage around your furnace, contact professionals with experience handling fire cleaning to make sure there isn't any hidden damage.