There’s so much to learn about your home’s systems when you first move in. This time, the focus is on your furnace. Though it’s true that you need to schedule your HVAC guy or gal to check it every year to make sure all’s working the way it should, there are also things you need to do as the owner of your furnace.
Check the Filter Regularly
Just about the most important part of your HVAC system is your air filter. A filter choked with dust and dirt causes the furnace to work too hard, which shortens its working life and drives up your energy bill. A filthy filter can damage your furnace and cause it to shut down. If you don’t know where your furnace’s filter is located, ask your HVAC technician. Check it every 1 to 3 months, and change it when necessary. Air filters are inexpensive and easy to find, so there’s no excuse to ignore them.
Be Mindful of the Thermostat
A smart thermostat is a great investment when it comes to your furnace. These types of thermostats are programmable and can communicate with your computer or your smartphone. For example, you can program the thermostat to lower the temperature at night while you’re asleep and raise it just before you get out of bed the next morning. This saves time and money.
Open the Vents and Registers, and Keep Them Clean
It seems logical to close up the vents in rooms that aren’t being used, but this is a mistake. If you close them, you stop the flow of air and make your furnace work too hard. Vents in your rooms should stay open, unobstructed by furniture or rugs, and kept clean.
Set Up a Fuel Delivery Schedule
Furnaces run on oil, natural gas, propane, or electricity. Make sure you know what kind of fuel your furnace uses. Propane, for example, needs to be delivered and stored in a tank outside your house. Don’t forget to set up a delivery schedule with the gas company so you don’t run out of fuel when you most need it.
Buy a Carbon Monoxide Detector
Every type of furnace, save one powered by electricity, can give off deadly carbon monoxide if it’s faulty. Preventing this potential catastrophe is another reason to make sure your air filters are clean. Make sure to install CO monitors near your bedrooms and on every floor of the house.
Your furnace should keep you toasty even through the coldest winters. Knowing how to maintain it helps it to help you. If you live in Denver, CO or a surrounding area and need furnace maintenance services, make your first call to Absolute Electrical Heating & Air.