As winter approaches, every home requires a functional heating system to keep warm and healthy. An efficient furnace will help you stay warm and comfortable during the season’s biting cold. Besides comfort, people are now more keen on keeping utility bills to the minimum.

If you are uncertain about what will work for you, check CM heating or any other company near you providing the same services to see the options available in the market. A study suggests that American families spend about 45 percent on furnace energy bills. You should have a proper, efficient, and well-maintained furnace. See below for tips for maintaining your furnace.

Replace or Clean Your Filter

A filter in the furnace is crucial in delivering the much-needed warm air in all the rooms during the cold season. The furnace filter is installed where the return duct gets into your furnace. Before it moves into the furnace equipment for heating, it removes particulates from the air unless you can reset it like your Honeywell thermostat.

The furnace filter removes all particulates, including dust mites, dust, pet dander, bacteria, spores, and pollen. When a filter gets dirty and old, consider replacing it by following the operating manual and finding the right size, rating, and filter type. Determine the filter located in the furnace and swap it out.

Clogged and dirty filters hinder indoor air quality and make your furnace work harder than usual. This makes it less efficient, shortens its lifespan, and costs you more money to maintain. It will eventually cost more to replace some parts or the entire furnace.

In a nutshell, a clogged filter restricts airflow for your furnace. As a result, the short furnace cycles as a result of overheating. The overheated furnace will trip the High Limit switch to shut the furnace down as a safety measure. Your home does not receive proper heat as it should ideally. Other problems like capacitor, blower motor, circuit board, and inducer may fail prematurely.

Reprogram the Thermostat or Change the Battery

Every new heating season deserves fresh batteries. Change the thermostat batteries to new ones every season to give you some warmth by ensuring that your thermostat is entirely functional. Your thermostat will also not work much more challenging to facilitate a comfortable temperature.

Always keep a few pairs of replacement batteries in case you wake up in the middle of a freezing night to a dead thermostat.

Besides changing the batteries, consider reprogramming your thermostat. Select a program that fits your schedule on cold days, and switch from daylight savings time to standard. You can set the thermostat to set on 20 minutes before waking up. Set the thermostat to run at low temperatures whenever you are out during the day and heat up when you are back.

Clean the Furnace Flue

Per the manufacturer’s specifications, a furnace should be 30 inches or more clear from debris and clutter. This way, enough air is available when heating for the combustion element. A clean furnace operates safely and smoothly. Regularly clean the area near your furnace at the beginning of every heating season to get rid of black mold in air vents.

Routine Maintenance

Like any other mechanical system, routine maintenance is crucial as you can arrest some problems early, making them less costly to repair. Start your maintenance routine even when the furnace is new. If possible, sign up for an annual maintenance program to save money while your furnace maintenance goes uninterrupted.

Get Your Ducts In Order

During warm months, critters make their home on your ductwork and insulation. Also, the duct space, like any other thing, deteriorates with time. When you feel hot or cold spots in your home due to imbalanced airflow, check out for possible new damage to your duct system.

Conclusion

Maintaining a furnace is not as hard as you can imagine. With a bit of care and some common sense every year, your furnace will serve you well for many years.