Replacing a furnace isn’t a task that’s easy, cheap or especially enjoyable. This means that for most homeowners, it is worthwhile to extend furnace life as much as practically possible.
Preventative Maintenance Comes First
There are two types of maintenance when it comes to your HVAC system: preventative and reactive. If you perform maintenance to avert problems before they arise, it’s considered preventative. Reactive maintenance, however, is the result of something breaking or not functioning well that you need to fix. Preventative maintenance is not only cheaper; it’s easier, more convenient, and much less stressful overall.
The most important preventative maintenance you can do is to schedule annual tune-ups for your furnace with an HVAC professional. They are reasonably priced and will stop all sorts of small problems from popping up at inopportune times.
These annual visits will include a thorough inspection of your HVAC system, as well as cleaning, component adjustments and safety checks. There are many benefits of these tune-ups, as they will help identify potential problems, keep you safe, and keep your HVAC system running at peak efficiency.
What You Can Do
There are some maintenance items you don’t need an HVAC professional to do. You can start by paying attention to your air filter. A dirty air filter will lower the efficiency of your system by impeding necessary airflow and negatively impact your indoor air quality. You should check the filter monthly and change it when it looks dirty.
The most effective step you can take is to reduce the workload for your furnace. The less it has to work, the longer furnace life you’ll get. You can reduce energy waste by insulating your attic, sealing air leaks around doors and windows, and in ducts.
Finally, installing a programmable thermostat will allow you to fully heat your home only when it’s necessary. This both reduces the workload of the furnace and saves you money on energy bills.
For professional help on extending furnace life in your Dayton home, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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