Our Practical Guide to Maintaining Your Furnace for Winter

If you have an HVAC system at home, you know how important it is to maintain your furnace. This heating system serves to warm your space, particularly during the cold winter months. It is typically a gas-powered system that heats the air in one area and distributes it throughout the home via the ducts and vents.

Part of the overall equation is to have regular furnace maintenance. Inspection, cleaning, and a quick fix are also necessary steps to ensure it is in top shape and working condition all year round. It's best to have this yearly upkeep performed in the early fall so that it will perform optimally and efficiently.

Here's our practical guide on how to maintain your furnace to prepare it for the winter season:

1. Have an inspection

When checking your heating unit, be on the lookout for all its parts or components. Pay particular attention to its venting pipes and drainage tubes to ensure they are securely fastened and angled. Aside from the visual inspection, check for any foul odour that smells like rotten eggs because the last thing you will want to happen is to have a gas leak at home.

2. Clear the drainage tube

Did you know that your furnace might produce small amounts of water during heating? While some get released as exhaust steam, a few others get drained from the power exhaust manifold to a drip pan. As a result, the tube gets clogged with water, and the flame sensor shuts the system down. For this reason, be sure to clear the drainage tube by detaching it from the manifold and blowing compressed air through it.

3. Check and fit the thermostat wires properly

Don't forget to check your thermostat wires, shut off the power, and remove the doors before performing the maintenance. Once done, you can give the wires a slight pull. Ultimately, doing so will ensure that they are securely tight and fit.

4. Clean and vacuum furnace's interior

Over time, remember that your furnace can easily accumulate dust, dirt, and other debris. All these can then affect your heating system's overall performance and efficiency. Because of this, you have to clean and vacuum the internal components of your heating system regularly. You can do so by using a soft paintbrush and gently apply it against the inner components. Once done, remove the particles and materials with a portable vacuum.

5. Change your furnace filter

Replacing your filter with a new one is a vital part of your maintenance practice. As a rule of thumb, have it changed every one to three months or as recommended by your manufacturer. Ultimately, doing so boosts your unit's performance, prolongs its longevity, and reduces your energy use by up to 15 percent!

6. Have a professional fix for any mechanical issue

During the inspection, it's inevitable for an expert to find parts or components that have some issues. With constant use and abuse, they can be subject to wear and tear in the long run. Yet, it's best to seek professional help to ensure the repair is done properly. For the most part, here are some problems your professional HVAC specialist can address:

• Ductwork loosened due to normal thermal expansion and contraction
• Blower motor bearings in need of lubrication
• Loose blower belt
• Improperly firing burners
• Blocked condensate drain
• Loose wiring harnesses
• Slowly leaking coolant from the AC system

Conclusion

At this point, you now know how to maintain your furnace so that it is ready to take on the winter season. As outlined above, all it takes is to have a visual inspection, clear the drainage tube, fit the thermostat wires, clean the interior, change the filter, and have a professional fix for any mechanical issue. By doing all these, you'll expect your furnace to work at its best and provide your household's heating needs during the cold months!Are you looking to have furnace maintenance to get it ready for the winter? You've come to the right place! Our experts at Soul Mechanical provide reliable HVAC services in Edmonton. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!