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CartHere’s How to Properly Take Care of Your Furnace
The average furnace can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. Regular upkeep of your heating and cooling system will keep it operating efficiently. Here’s some furnace maintenance tips that can help save you money and make your furnace last even longer.
Clean or Replace Your Furnace Filter
One of the most important things you can do is check the condition of your furnace filter. At a minimum this should be done at the start of each spring and fall season.
Check Your Furnace Blower Motor
A good blower motor – one with sealed bearings and bushings – can last up to 20 years. It’s the heart of your HVAC system because it circulates the heated (or cooled) air through your home’s ductwork and forced air registers. It works hard through the winter (and summer if you have central air), so it needs to be cared for well. The location and appearance of the blower motor in your furnace will depend on its design and age—you can check your furnace manual or look on the manufacturer’s website for specifics. Some tasks can be done by handy DIYers. For others you’ll want to call a professional furnace repair service. Here’s some common issues and fixes to be aware of:
Rattling or banging noises from the fan: This may simply be loose mounting brackets or a loose setscrew on the spindle that need tightening
Furnace comes on and off rapidly and repeatedly: The blower-motor unit probably needs cleaning to prevent overheating
Noisy motor: It could mean the motor needs lubricating, or the motor bearings could be worn out which means the whole unit needs replacing
Air volume exiting registers is lower than usual: It’s time to clean the fan and the blower motor
Fan has stopped operating in variable speed mode: May require a reset of the blower motor, and it could be a sign that the fan and motor need cleaning
Blower motor has ceased operation: Cleaning and resetting the blower may fix this, otherwise the motor may be burned out and in need of
Check Your Thermostat
Inspections & Maintenance
If you feel up to a little DIY work to keep your furnace working well, here are a few things you might tackle:
Your HVAC system is the key to your home’s year-round comfort. Spending the time to keep it operating at optimal levels will save you repair costs and ultimately extend its life.
