Tips to Ensure a Long Furnace Lifespan
Your furnace is working round the clock to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long. But, just like with other mechanical systems, it benefits from consistent upkeep to ensure it runs smoothly and to avoid any inconvenient breakdowns. Maintaining your furnace makes it more likely to last years longer, especially compared to one left alone. It also means lower energy bills!
1. Keep the Area Near Your Furnace Clear
Keeping the area around your furnace uncluttered ensures airflow and safe operation. Make sure the area is kept dust-free and well clear of flammable materials. This avoids fire and similar safety risks, ensuring your furnace performs more effectively.
2. Schedule Yearly HVAC Tune-Ups
Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional ensures your furnace’s overall health. During the appointment, the technician inspects, services and otherwise optimizes the system for best performance. This preventative care detects small issues before they become something more serious, preventing costly breakdowns. A regular inspection also improves efficiency, lowering your monthly energy bills.
3. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
Another way to reduce your furnace’s overall workload is to take what steps you can to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and sealing around windows and doors will keep heat from escaping, allowing your furnace to hold a comfortable temperature. As long as your furnace operates more easily, it suffers less wear and tear, increasing its lifespan.
4. Don’t Put Off Furnace Repairs
If you begin to notice any unusual noises, uneven heating or unexpected utility spikes, don’t delay checking out these concerns. Even small malfunctions can gradually evolve into more severe breakdowns. If left ignored, it could affect the total lifespan of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs can prevent further damage and keep your system running.
5. Set Your Furnace to a Reasonable Temperature
Setting your thermostat too high forces your furnace to work overtime, putting extra wear on the entire system. This constant demand results in reduced efficiency. To keep it running longer, set your thermostat to a seasonally appropriate temperature—for example between 68 and 72 degrees F. You can additionally adjust the temperature by 8 to 10 degrees while you’re asleep or on a trip. These simple changes cut costs and reduce further stress on your furnace.
6. Swap Out Your Furnace Filter When Recommended
The filter captures dust, fur and other airborne allergens to stop them from reaching the system’s more vulnerable components. Over time, the filter fills up with debris, limiting air circulation and causing your furnace to work harder. This unnecessary effort could result in furnace troubles and sometimes more serious issues.
To avoid those kinds of problems, don’t forget to check and change the filter as needed, depending on total usage and the type of filter installed.
7. Invest in a Modern Furnace When the Time Is Right
As soon as your furnace is outdated and breaks down more often, it may be time to replace it. Modern furnaces offer the best in heating technology while still reducing total power use. Although the price tag may be higher than a repair, the total lifetime repair costs and better performance make it a smart choice.
8. Install a Programmable Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to truly fine-tune the heating in your home, with features like scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re out or in bed. This reduces run time, saving energy and minimizing strain.
9. Maintain Proper Circulation
Your furnace will only operate at its best when the airflow between supply and return vents is evenly distributed. Sealing off the majority of your supply registers can result in excess strain or force your furnace to work itself too hard. To help keep things running smoothly, make sure that all air vents are open and free from being blocked by any curtains. This enables your furnace to distribute heat as intended.
Trust Canyon State Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing for Reliable Furnace Maintenance
Maintaining your furnace prevents breakdowns, enhances its day-to-day operation and can even promote a longer service life. Canyon State Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing specializes in helping you enjoy a comfortable home environment. Our licensed technicians offer efficient, trustworthy service.
If it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit or if you’re looking for more personalized advice to optimize your furnace, please contact us today!
