5 Fall Furnace Maintenance Tips

The fall season is often the most ideal time of year to get your winter weather preparations completed and in place. As the temperatures drop, you especially want to make sure that your furnace is working properly so that it is ready to go when you need it the most! Here are 5 essential fall furnace maintenance tips for homeowners.

1. Schedule an annual furnace inspection with a trained, qualified professional. The inspector will come in to make sure that the unit is working properly, effectively, and optimally. He or she will also check to make sure that any exhaust fumes that could be harmful to you, your family, or your home are being vented outside the right way through a flu or chimney. This can help to identify issues such as carbon monoxide in the air, that if gone unattended, could result in illness or even death.
2. There are also measures you can take on your own. One of the simplest and more effective ways to keep your furnace running properly is to change out the furnace filters regularly. Clean filters help to ensure that air can pass through and enter your home. If the filter is clogged or obstructed, it is often difficult for the warm air your furnace is producing to reach your home.
3. Next, you should be sure to check out the ducts in your home. Look for air gaps or leaks that may be reducing your system’s efficiency. When air is lost, your furnace has to work much harder to heat your home to the desired temperature set on the thermostat, costing you more money. While you’re looking at the ducts, you should also be sure to lubricate any moving parts such as the blower.
4. Make sure that your thermostat is set and calibrated correctly. An improperly calibrated thermostat can throw off the entire system and ruin your temperature settings tremendously, causing inconsistent temperatures in your home that are too cold or too hot or that fluctuate frequently. This can waste money and energy significantly as well. Consider re-calibrating your thermostat, or you may choose to install a programmable thermostat that can help you to conserve energy when you are away or asleep, saving you up to 40 percent on your energy bills each month.
5. Finally, check that your electronic ignition system is working the way that it should. If your furnace is a little bit longer at the tooth, your igniter may be prone to failing at any time. You should think about replacing the electric ignition system before the winter months and before the temperature goes down to freezing.

Maintaining your furnace is important to keep it working at it’s peak all winter long. It is best to inspect and repair anything regarding your furnace in the fall months so that you have plenty of time to fix things before you truly need the heat in the wintertime. Avoid waiting until the last minute so that you don’t have to freeze in your home due to a faulty part! Once you take care of your furnace maintenance, you will feel calm and relaxed so that you can focus your attention on other household tasks such as the best indoor plants.