FEELING THE HEAT
A little routine maintenance and frequent filter changes will keep your furnace firing
I've been fighting it for a few weeks — but I finally had to give in this weekend when I saw a few snow flurries outside my window. Yes, I'm talking about my furnace. I had to turn up the heat for the first time in months.
After a season of dormancy, do you know what kind of shape your furnace is in? It's important to figure that out now, before we get into a major deep-freeze. Preventive maintenance, or a replacement slightly ahead of schedule, can keep you from having a unit break down in the middle of winter. Odds are, if your furnace is going to fail you — it's going to happen when it's needed the most — like in the middle of a January deep-freeze.
Unless your unit is still relatively new, scheduling a furnace inspection ASAP is a good idea just to ensure it will last you for another winter. Typically, you'll want to have it checked out annually — and this is the right time to do so. If you're worried the unit isn't up to the task this winter, here are a few telltale signs you can look out for that indicates a furnace on its last legs.
SI GNS OF A BAD FURNACE
Age tends to be a good indicator. Even the best-cared-for units won't last forever. The average lifespan of a furnace is about 20 years, so if you're getting close to that point (look up the systems model number located on the unit to confirm its age) — a pre-emptive replacement might be a good idea.
If the furnace starts to show signs of rust, or cracks around the system — or you can hear it becoming much nosier than normal (listen for rattles in the unit), that could indicate major structural issues.
Does your home just not heat efficiently any more? Perhaps certain rooms are suddenly much colder than the rest? When the system is on its way out, it can have a lot more trouble heating all areas of the home efficiently. If the home feels unusually dry, that could be another indicator of a poor furnace. You might see this manifesting in higher energy bills, because the furnace has to work overtime to provide heat to the home.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
As a homeowner, there are a few things you should be doing to keep your furnace running efficiently.
Get into the habit of changing your HVAC filters frequently.
The filter's job is to protect the blower fan from all the dust, pet hair, and other junk that the return ducts pick up. Its role is not to clean your air (though it does help prevent those contaminants from being recirculated) — but to ensure your unit can work at maximum efficiency to keep you warm.
If these filters aren't replaced regularly, airflow is restricted and the furnace will trap that warm air inside the system, causing the temperature of the unit to rise, and force a shut down to prevent overheating. This is a process called short cycling, and adds significantly to the wear and tear of your unit. This can actually cut the life of your system by several years.
How often you change these filters will depend on a number of factors, like the kind of filters you use, whether or not you have pets, and how much use the unit sees. During the winter months, you'll probably want to be replacing your filters monthly — though with lower usage (typically in spring and fall), you can probably do it once every three months.
You also need to keep your blower assembly clean. It's usually located next to the filter — and it can get just as dirty. On your next maintenance visit with a pro, they can show you exactly where this is and how to clean it. Usually you can do so with a damp cloth.
Furnace units that get the proper TLC tend to last much longer than those that don't get any love from their owners. A well-cared-for furnace can last much longer than one that was neglected. Depending on how long you live in the home, you may only have to replace it once. At the end of the day, that's a good thing.