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Writer's pictureRebecca Weaver

How to Care for Your Furnace: Beginner's Guide to HVAC Care

Congratulations! You've purchased a home, filled it with furniture, and decorated the space to make it your own. It's a big step, and a life event most take great pride in. Unfortunately, homeownership doesn't come with a manual, leaving you in a tough spot when something goes wrong.


Furnaces in Ohio are typically turned on in the fall, around September and October, and are most heavily used between December and February. Whether in a new home or a house you've lived in for years, understanding how to care for your furnace is important. It can increase the life and reliability of the equipment and prevent issues with carbon monoxide, a deadly gas.


Here are the 5 areas of furnace care every homeowner needs to know:


  1. Annual Maintenance - Cleaning and Servicing the Furnace Before Winter

  2. Changing The Filter - Keeping the Blower Motor and Evaporator Coil Clean

  3. Carbon Monoxide Alarms - The Best Safety Measure

  4. Ducts & Registers - Allowing Your System To Breathe

  5. Observing Operations - Sounds & Signs to Look Out For


David, HVAC Technician, Repairing a Furnace, Blower Motor, Evaporator Coil
David Repairing A Furnace

Annual Furnace Maintenance

Regularly cleaning and servicing the furnace is a great way to keep your furnace efficient and running properly. Professional HVAC technicians will have a list of components to check and clean to prepare your furnace for heavier use during the winter. These appointments are generally less expensive than a standard service call and may even come as part of a maintenance subscription.


Click here for more information on Maintenance.


Changing The Furnace's Filter

Regularly changing the air filter in your ductwork is crucial to ensuring your equipment stays clean and efficient. The filter protects the blower motor and evaporator coil from getting dirty and is the easiest way to prevent damage to the furnace. Depending on lifestyle and household size, we recommend changing filters every 1 to 3 months.


Click here for more information on filters (changing them, different kinds, etc.).


Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Carbon Monoxide Detection and Air Quality Testing
Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Carbon Monoxide alarms, or "CO Alarms", are designed to detect carbon monoxide in the home. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a deadly gas that has no odor or color and occurs when natural gas does not burn completely.


With any gas appliance, it's important to have CO alarms to know when the gas is present in your home. Testing these alarms and changing the batteries regularly is the best way to make sure you have the proper safety measures in place. If the alarm goes off, it's important to call an expert right away so they can find where the CO is coming from and remedy the issue.


Click here for more information about Carbon Monoxide from Furnaces.


Ducts & Registers - Letting the Furnace Breathe

Ducted HVAC Systems need adequate airflow to work properly. If ducts and registers are blocked, it can prevent the air from flowing through as easily, forcing your furnace to work harder. Check all registers in the home to be sure they are clear of objects to allow air to flow through the furnace.


Ductwork cleanings are a great way to improve airflow to the unit. We recommend clearing the ducts before having the furnace serviced due to excessive dust and dirt being kicked up from the ductwork. It's also good practice to check ductwork for any holes or damage that might inhibit airflow, too.


General Observations

Just like your wife, sometimes all a furnace needs you to do is listen. The best way to care for your HVAC equipment is to pay attention to the way it usually sounds so you can notice anything abnormal later. Looking at the unit and noting areas of corrosion, water around the unit, ice building up, or the color of the flame allows you to notice when these things change and could indicate a problem. Even the smell around your unit could help you recognize a gas leak or poor combustion.


During an annual cleaning, it can be helpful to ask your local furnace technician about any concerns they may have noticed. This way, if they notice something, you can keep tabs on it and notify them if the condition worsens (example: small hum becomes loud clanking noise).


Keeping up with these simple practices will allow your furnace to run efficiently, effectively, and for as long as possible.



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