Winter is a time for cozying up by the fire, but if you don’t have one, you might be tempted to turn up the heat. However, here’s something to keep in mind: turning on your furnace too often can cause it to break down.
If you’re like us, you’ve already started thinking about how you can keep your home warm and cozy during these colder months. That means thinking about your furnace!
What does that mean, exactly? How do you keep your furnace running optimally? It’s more complex than flipping a switch. However, you can take steps to ensure that your system is working at its best.
Here Are Some Tips for Keeping Your Furnace Running Optimally in Winter
Make Sure Your Filters Are Clean
Filters can get clogged with dust and debris, which means they won’t be able to do their job and keep air flowing through the system properly. Also, if you don’t change them regularly, it can lead to problems when it’s time to replace them altogether. On the other hand, waiting likely costs you more money. So ensure they’re clean at least once every one to three months.
If you want to keep your furnace running at peak performance, you should change your air filters regularly. This will reduce the amount of dust and debris that gets drawn into the system.
Blocked or dirty air filters can cause your HVAC system to:
- work harder
- use more energy
- wear out faster
You should change your dirty filters once a month or every three months, depending on how much dust and debris is in your home.
Furnace filters are crucial to keeping your furnace running optimally. If your air filter isn’t changed regularly, you could be letting dust and debris block up the vents in your home, which can cause serious problems for your heating system.
Changing your air filter often will keep everything running smoothly and prevent costly repairs down the road.
Clean the Blower Vents
Blower vents are the pipes connected to the outside of your home that take warm air from the inside and vent it outside. They can become clogged with dirt and debris over time, preventing them from working properly.
Remove any insulation around the vents if you have access to an attic or crawlspace. Be sure to vacuum them clean using an attachment designed specifically for this purpose. Remember, for safety issues, this may require turning off the power first. If there isn’t already insulation around these pipes (e.g., if they’re visible in an unfinished basement), add some now. This will prevent ice buildup from damaging them further down the road if too much moisture builds up inside or around them.
Clear Debris Regularly
Your furnace runs less efficiently when it has to work to push air through clogged vents. One of the most important things you can do to keep your high-efficiency furnace running optimally is to clear debris regularly. This is especially important in winter when snow and ice can quickly accumulate and block your furnace’s air vents, causing it to either overheat or stop working altogether.
If you see that debris has built up around the vents on your furnace, remove it as soon as possible. Clearing out the debris that builds up around your vents can reduce your energy bills by 10%.
Check Your Thermostat Settings Regularly
Winter is a time for cozying up by the fire, but if you don’t have one, you might be tempted to turn up the heat. However, here’s something to keep in mind: turning on your furnace too often can cause it to break down.
If you’re like us, you’ve already started thinking about how you can keep your home warm and cozy during these colder months. That means thinking about your furnace!
What does that mean, exactly? How do you keep your furnace running optimally? It’s more complex than flipping a switch. However, you can take steps to ensure that your system is working at its best.
Here Are Some Tips for Keeping Your Furnace Running Optimally in Winter
Make Sure Your Filters Are Clean
Filters can get clogged with dust and debris, which means they won’t be able to do their job and keep air flowing through the system properly. Also, if you don’t change them regularly, it can lead to problems when it’s time to replace them altogether. On the other hand, waiting likely costs you more money. So ensure they’re clean at least once every one to three months.
If you want to keep your furnace running at peak performance, you should change your air filters regularly. This will reduce the amount of dust and debris that gets drawn into the system.
Blocked or dirty air filters can cause your HVAC system to:
- work harder
- use more energy
- wear out faster
You should change your dirty filters once a month or every three months, depending on how much dust and debris is in your home.
Furnace filters are crucial to keeping your furnace running optimally. If your air filter isn’t changed regularly, you could be letting dust and debris block up the vents in your home, which can cause serious problems for your heating system.
Changing your air filter often will keep everything running smoothly and prevent costly repairs down the road.
Clean the Blower Vents
Blower vents are the pipes connected to the outside of your home that take warm air from the inside and vent it outside. They can become clogged with dirt and debris over time, preventing them from working properly.
Remove any insulation around the vents if you have access to an attic or crawlspace. Be sure to vacuum them clean using an attachment designed specifically for this purpose. Remember, for safety issues, this may require turning off the power first. If there isn’t already insulation around these pipes (e.g., if they’re visible in an unfinished basement), add some now. This will prevent ice buildup from damaging them further down the road if too much moisture builds up inside or around them.
Clear Debris Regularly
Your furnace runs less efficiently when it has to work to push air through clogged vents. One of the most important things you can do to keep your high-efficiency furnace running optimally is to clear debris regularly. This is especially important in winter when snow and ice can quickly accumulate and block your furnace’s air vents, causing it to either overheat or stop working altogether.
If you see that debris has built up around the vents on your furnace, remove it as soon as possible. Clearing out the debris that builds up around your vents can reduce your energy bills by 10%.
Check Your Thermostat Settings Regularly
- Ensure there are no obstructions around or near vents, such as furniture, which could interfere with airflow.
- Check your thermostat settings. If it’s set too high, it could be using more energy than necessary and costing you money! Make sure that you have a thermostat set at the right temperature. The temperature should be between 68°F and 72°F degrees. If your thermostat is not properly set, it may cause problems with your furnace and increase your utility bill.
Get Regular Tune-Ups from a Professional Technician
In winter, it’s tempting to just turn up the furnace and keep the heat on full blast. However, if your furnace isn’t tuned-up regularly, it won’t be running optimally, which means you’ll be wasting money on high energy bills.
That’s why getting annual tune-ups from a professional technician is so important. These furnace maintenance tune-ups should become routine and done, at the minimum, annually. For example, a furnace tune-up will ensure that your furnace is functioning properly, safely and operating at maximum energy efficiency levels. It also ensures there aren’t any leaks in your heating system or any other issues that could cause increased wear on your equipment over time.
If you’ve been neglecting your furnace for years now, then this winter is the perfect time for you to schedule an appointment with an HVAC expert! An HVAC technician can give your equipment the care it deserves!
Schedule an annual maintenance checkup with a professional HVAC technician. They will ensure that your system is working properly and that there are no problems that could cause it to malfunction. If there are any issues with the unit, this is a good time to have them fixed before they become major problems.
The Cooling Company can help! We are an HVAC company with 50 years of combined experience to help with all your furnace needs.
We know that the winter months can be a challenge for homeowners, especially when it comes to maintaining their furnaces. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you keep your furnace running optimally so you can stay warm and cozy this winter.
If this is your first time having your furnace serviced, or if it’s been a few years since your last service, now is the time to get started. You don’t want to be left without heat during the coldest months of the year!
During the winter, your furnace is one of the most important things in your home. It keeps you warm, which means it’s vital that it runs optimally. Don’t wait until you’re freezing to call The Cooling Company for maintenance or an emergency installation. We can help!
We offer a wide range of services, including:
- New furnace installation
- Maintenance
- Emergency furnace repairs
In the winter, your furnace may be working overtime to keep your home warm. The Cooling Company can help you avoid costly repairs, invest your money in energy efficiency, and keep your furnace running optimally this winter. Call today to meet with us for all your HVAC equipment needs from the comfort of your home!
