Each type of heating system works differently, which means they all require different maintenance. If you have a gas furnace, which is one of the most common types of heating systems, here are the three basic heater maintenance tasks you should undertake in order to keep it in good shape.
1. Clean or change the filter.
This type of heater works by blowing warm air thorough ducts. Before the air returns to the furnace to be warmed, however, it passes through a filter. This filter is meant to catch dust and other debris. As such, dust and debris build up on the furnace over time. If you do not ever remove the dust, it gets harder and harder for your furnace to draw air through the filter. Eventually, this gets pretty hard on the furnace's motor. You should be cleaning your furnace filter every month. Just vacuum it off! If you use a disposable filter, change it monthly.
2. Clean the blower assembly.
The blower assembly can attract dust, especially if you have not changed your filter as often as you should have in the past. Luckily, it is pretty easy to clean your blower assembly. Turn off the power supply to your furnace. (There's no need to turn off the gas, since the blower assembly is an electric component.) Then, remove the furnace cover, which may involve undoing a bolt or two. You should see the blower motor. Use a vacuum cleaner with a wand attachment to suck up any dust. If there is a piece that is badly covered in dust, you can wipe it down with a damp cloth.
3. Clean the vents.
If you look at your vent covers, you will probably notice they are covered in dust. Removing this dust helps ensure it does not later end up on your air filter or in the blower assembly. You can remove most vent covers by undoing two or four screws. Place the cover in a bucket of soapy water, and give it a good scrub. Then, rinse it and let it dry. While the vent covers are off, vacuum out as much of the vent as you can access. Then, put the vent cover back into place.
As you can see, with a gas furnace, maintenance is mostly about keeping things clean. Contact an HVAC company if you need help with these or other maintenance tasks. Most offer comprehensive maintenance services.
Share25 February 2020
I know it can be difficult to make yourself think about getting your furnace running when the skies are sunny and the temperatures are hovering around 90, but it is the best time for you to think about your heating system. Getting ahead of the winter preparation game will help to save on the cost of the repairs because the need for furnace maintenance is usually at a low during the fall season. This blog will show you what you can do to prepare your furnace for winter and when you should hire a professional HVAC technician to take care of it for you.