With winter weather just around the corner, now is the time to look at that furnace, and make sure that it’s going to keep you warm this snowy winter season. Most HVAC systems require very little owner maintenance if you have a HVAC service such as Service 1 Heating & AC Inc. come out, and inspect the furnace at the beginning of the fall season. If you are operating a dirty furnace, then it will result in higher electric bills and a furnace that might fail you in the middle of the winter. Although it is best to have a HVAC service professional inspect your furnace if you feel anything is wrong with it, there are a few things that you can take care of yourself.
Remember that before you perform any maintenance on your unit, you will need to turn off the electricity to it. Electricity can kill you, and is nothing to play with. The first thing you need to do is make sure that you change your filters monthly. Even if your filter doesn’t look clogged or dirty, it is recommended that you change it once a month anyway. You can also use a vacuum to remove any dirt, debris, and dust from the inside and outside of the unit when it gets dirty. A dirty filter will raise your electric bill beyond belief, and restrict air flow as well.
You never want to store things in front of your furnace. Keep the area neat, clean, and clutter free. Not only does this block airflow but stuff cluttered in front of the furnace is a fire hazard as well.
It is only good common sense when you are trying to save money on your heating bill in the winter to bundle up and keep the thermostat down. Put on a jogging suit and a thick pair of socks, instead of running around in shorts and a tee shirt. There are ways to stay warm this winter, having your heating system serviced before the first snow flies is just one way to make sure that your unit doesn’t let you down.
