Furnace Maintenance During Winter Months

Atlanta, Georgia – During the winter months, we break out our sweaters, hats and mittens and get ready to crank up the furnace to keep our homes toasty and warm. But have we ensured our furnace has been properly maintained in order to run efficiently all winter?

All furnaces, even energy efficient ones, need to be regularly checked and properly maintained to ensure proper function. Phil Montgomery, owner of Atlanta Heating and Air Conditioning, offers some energy saving tips below.

The most important thing to remember is that your furnace or heating system should be checked by a professional at least once a year. A professional service, recommended in the fall or winter, will ensure that your heating unit is running at an optimal level, because if it runs well, it will run less often, thus using less energy. It will also heat more efficiently. A professional service will also take care of duct cleaning to remove any dirt or allergens that have built up.

During the inspection, the service company will also replace the filter, adjust the belts and lubricate the motor.

“While I encourage all my clients to have their furnaces professionally serviced once a year, there are other things they can do on their own to ensure their furnace is running properly,” says Cliff Montgomery, Atlanta heating and cooling expert.

• Begin by making sure the vents in your home are not obstructed by any objects. Be sure all carpets, furniture, drapery, etc. are not covering any vents. These could create a fire hazard. Also be sure there is nothing flammable near your vents or furnace.
• Look for any places where air could possibly be leaking out. Check around doors, windows and any other openings to the outside. Lower the thermostat when you are not home, or consider installing a programmable thermostat.
• Change your filters regularly.

“I recommend checking your filter once a month,” says Montgomery, whose Atlanta heater repair business has provided exceptional service for more than 40 years. “Plan to change your filter at least every three months.”

Regularly changing the filter is an important component to heat your home, as well as to save you money. Clogs will impede the airflow, making your furnace work harder and therefore making it more expensive to run.

Other tips include:

• Use a vacuum hose to clean the inside of the furnace to remove any debris that might be inside. Pay close attention to the base of the heater and burners.
• All furnaces should have a safety switch on the door. The switch will pop out when the door is removed. Be sure this switch is unobstructed.
• Be sure the area around your furnace is clean and free of clutter to prevent fires.
• Closely check all visible wiring and other electrical connections for burns or unraveling.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector to keep your family safe. Carbon monoxide is colorless, tasteless and odorless and is deadly in high levels.
• Keep an eye on your thermostat for the first several times you turn on your heating unit. If the furnace is running but the temperature gauge doesn’t change, you may need a new thermostat.

If you have concerns about the way your furnace is running, or if you can’t remember when your last professional maintenance was performed, call your local heating repair company as soon as possible. With proper attention and maintenance, your furnace will keep your family cozy throughout the cold winter months.

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