How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Furnace and Avoid Breakdowns
Your furnace is working round the clock to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long. But, like any appliance, it should be given routine care from trained technicians to ensure it performs its best and to hopefully prevent any inconvenient breakdowns. Maintaining your furnace can help it last years longer, especially compared to one that is poorly maintained. It also means more affordable energy use!
Here are some helpful steps to extend the lifespan of your furnace and keep it running more efficiently for many years to come.
Change the Filter on a Regular Basis
The filter captures debris, pet hair and other airborne allergens to prevent them from entering the system’s more sensitive components. Over time, the filter becomes blocked with debris, limiting air circulation and causing your furnace to exert more effort. This extra wear and tear can lead to more problems and sometimes irreparable damage.
To avoid those kinds of problems, remember to check and swap out the filter on a regular basis, depending on how often you use the system and the type of filter you use.
Invest in Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Another way to reduce your furnace’s total workload is to take what steps you can to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and other sealing accessories around windows and doors will keep heat from escaping, making it easier for your furnace to maintain a comfortable temperature. As long as your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard, it undergoes less wear and tear, increasing its lifespan.
Keep Up with Routine HVAC Maintenance
Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional helps promote your furnace’s overall health. During the appointment, a technician inspects, services and otherwise optimizes the system for best performance. This regular preventive maintenance helps identify small issues before they become something more serious, avoiding costly breakdowns. Regular maintenance also reduces energy waste, cutting your monthly heating costs.
Tidy Up Around the Furnace
Keeping the space around your furnace clean encourages steady, unobstructed airflow. Make sure the area is kept dust-free and well clear of flammable materials. This prevents fire hazards, ensuring your furnace performs more smoothly.
Consider Trying a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat gives you more control than ever in your home, through features such as scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re out or in bed. This reduces operating time, lowering your energy bill and minimizing strain.
Don’t Put Off Furnace Repairs
If you notice strange sounds, stubborn cold spots or rising heating costs, don’t wait to check out these signs of trouble. Even small issues can gradually develop into more severe breakdowns. If left unchecked, it could reduce the overall service life of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs can prevent further damage and keep your system running.
Keep All Vents and Registers Unblocked
Your furnace will only function best when the airflow between supply and return vents is well-regulated. Sealing off too many of your supply registers can cause heat buildup or force your furnace to work itself too hard. To help maintain good performance, make sure that the air vents are open and free from being blocked by any furniture. This allows your furnace to distribute heat properly.
Choose Energy-Efficient Temperature Settings
Setting your thermostat beyond energy-efficient levels forces your furnace to run constantly, putting excess stress on the entire system. This increased workload causes reduced efficiency. To keep it running longer, set your thermostat to a seasonally appropriate temperature—such as between 68-72° F. You can alternatively adjust the temperature by around 8-10° while you’re out of the house. These strategies cut costs and reduce further stress on your furnace.
Upgrade to an Energy-Efficient Model
As soon as your furnace is old and breaks down more often, it may be time to consider a new model. Modern furnaces feature higher performance than ever while still reducing total power use. Although the upfront cost may be higher than a repair, the smaller utility bills and better performance make it a smart choice.
Choose Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to Keep Your Furnace Running
Properly servicing your furnace prevents breakdowns, enhances its day-to-day operation and can even extend its total potential lifespan. Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing specializes in helping you keep a comfortable home environment. Our licensed technicians offer efficient, trustworthy service.
If it’s been a while since your last furnace tune-up or if you’re interested in more personalized advice to strengthen your furnace, please contact us today!
