If you’re not experienced with home projects, it makes sense to call your local HVAC maintenance professional for all your home service needs. However, there are steps you can take at home to help keep your furnace working well. Although the task can seem intimidating at first, consider some ways you can maintain your home’s heater before calling a professional.
You don’t need to be an expert to take care of your heater! At Southern Air Mississippi, we’d like to share six tips to take for maintaining your heater with your own hands!
Heater Maintenance Timeline
It is recommended to get heater maintenance every year to ensure your system runs properly and efficiently. It’s also best to troubleshoot your system and get it maintained before the colder season arrives — just to be on the safe side that your heater works when it’s most needed!
Do-It-Yourself Furnace Tune-Up
Before calling a professional, read over a few of these DIY furnace maintenance tips to see if they are feasible for you. You might be surprised to find they are safer and easier than you thought. Remember, safety is a top priority when performing DIY furnace maintenance. Always turn off the power and gas to the furnace before starting any cleaning or maintenance tasks.
If you’re unsure about a particular aspect of furnace maintenance, or if you encounter any problems, it’s best to consult with a qualified HVAC technician to ensure your furnace remains in good working condition.
1. Check And Clean The Furnace Filter
Over time, your furnace filter traps dust, dirt and other debris that can potentially enter the system and damage it. Be sure to clean or replace your furnace filter every one to three months to enhance your air quality and ensure that your system works its best!
2. Open Vents
You might think that closing your vent will make your HVAC system produce less and save energy, but that isn’t true. In fact, your unit may be working harder to ensure the air makes it into all the rooms so the house stays at one uniform temperature.
So do yourself a favor, and open all the vents in your home when your system is on so that the system can work most efficiently.
3. Keep Your Heater Cool
Where you install a furnace in your home is an important decision! Here are some tips about heater placement:
- Place the system in a well-ventilated area.
- Place your heater in a cool area.
- Make sure it does not touch walls.
- Don’t keep items or boxes around it.
- Don’t allow flammable objects near it.
To be safe, it is best to make sure your heater is at least 30 inches away from any objects or walls so that it can work its best.
4. Clean Out Vents And Ductwork
In addition to checking and cleaning your furnace’s filters, make sure the vents and ductwork get checked as well! To clean them out, remove the vent covers, then place your vacuum’s nozzle into the vent so it can help remove dust, debris and other foreign items that may have gotten stuck inside.
5. Check For Heating System Air Leaks
In your home, air can escape from a few places, which makes your HVAC unit work harder! A few common places for air leaks include cracks in windows, doors and chimneys.
Make sure to seal leaks on windows with caulking tape and close doors and chimney vents when not in use, making sure they are as airtight as possible. Even using thicker drapes can help reduce air leaks.
6. Check The Pilot Light And Furnace Wiring
If you have a gas furnace with a pilot light, ensure it’s burning a steady blue flame. If it’s flickering or any other color, it might indicate a problem. Suspected gas leaks are a serious safety concern. If you ever smell gas or suspect a leak, immediately turn off the gas supply, ventilate the area by opening windows and doors and vacate the premises.
Visually inspect the wiring and connections for any signs of wear or loose connections. If you’re not experienced with electrical work, it’s best to call a professional for any needed heater repairs.
McComb Heating Services
Now that you’ve learned a few HVAC tips, if you find yourself wanting extra help, it’s never a bad idea to call an HVAC technician for assistance with heater maintenance! Our team at Southern Air Mississippi can help with tune-up services and help maintain your heater so it runs efficiently all season long. Don’t hesitate to give us a call to set up your next appointment!
