When it comes to keeping your home heated during the Canadian winters, your furnace plays the central role (after all, it’s called a central heating system). Unfortunately, many homeowners in Ontario overlook the importance of regular furnace maintenance and end up shortening the lifespan of their system. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why furnace maintenance is crucial to keeping your HVAC system healthy, and how you can ensure you’re staying up-to-date with your furnace maintenance.
Why Furnace Maintenance is Important
Efficiency
Keeping up with maintenance will keep your central heating system performing with maximum efficiency, saving you extra costs on your utility bills.
Lifespan
Just like any other mechanical system, your furnace has a lifespan. Typically, this should be at least 8 years. Staying up-to-date with maintenance will help your furnace last a lot longer.
Safety
Making sure your furnace is up-to-date with maintenance can help identify if there are any issues with your heating system.
How to Maintain Your Furnace
Filter Changes
One of the simplest yet most effective tasks when it comes to furnace maintenance is ensuring you regularly change the filter. This helps maintain airflow and reduces strains on the system, helping increase overall efficiency. How often you need to change your filter depends on the type of furnace you have. You can get in touch with an HVAC technician to ensure you get the right filter.
Inspections
There are a few things you can check for when you change your furnace filters to help identify if you require any additional maintenance for your furnace. If you chose to get in touch with a HVAC technician then you can ask them to complete a complimentary furnace inspection for you. Here is what to check for:
Noises
The first and most simple check is to see if there are any odd noises with your furnace, any possible rattling or extra loud noises. It’s important to promptly contact a professional if you hear any odd noises.
Thermostat Calibration
Make sure your thermostat is accurately calibrated. This ensures there is no extra strain on your furnace.
Air Ducts
Making sure your air ducts are clean helps maximize air flow and increase efficiency of your furnace. Periodic air duct cleaning assists in reducing strain on your central heating and cooling system.
Maintenance Results in Longevity and Efficiency to Your Central Heating System
Ultimately, investing into furnace maintenance is a proactive approach to ensuring the longevity and efficiency of your central heating system. By performing maintenance you can keep your furnace running efficiently, and potentially avoid a need for an early replacement or unexpected repairs. You can get in touch with a local HVAC technician to perform your furnace maintenance and inspection.