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Get Ready For Spring - Maintenance Tips For Your Furnace

by Feride Halma

Your furnace is probably being used less and less these days with warmer weather coming in. Soon you won't need the furnace at all, and will be turning on the air conditioner instead. Simply turning off the furnace and forgetting about it isn't the best idea. You should do some maintenance work to your furnace after shutting it off for the season. Read on for some maintenance tips that can lengthen the life of your furnace.

Vacuum The System

Open the panel on your furnace after it is shut off for the season and vacuum up all of the debris inside of your system. You may notice a lot of dust, dander and pet hair. This debris can build up and cause a premature breakdown of your system if you don't clean it up. Vacuuming your system before, during and after the winter season will help prevent a breakdown and can lengthen the life of your system.

Vacuum Your Vents

With your vacuum or shop vacuum out, vacuum the vents in your home as well. Go around to each of the vents in your home and take off the vent cover. Vacuum the debris inside, getting in as far as you can with the extension hose. A lot of debris can accumulate throughout the winter months, as you are indoors quite a bit more than during spring and summer. 

Open The Vents

The vents around your home may be blocked with things such as furniture, storage and other items. Be sure all of these vents are exposed to allow for air to move freely, and that each of the vents in your home are kept open. Shutting or blocking the vents may cause uneven temperatures around your home.

Replace The Air Filter

The air filter should also be replaced with a new one. This is a maintenance task that should be done each month, but a lot of homeowners forget about this. The filter helps get rid of dander and other particles from getting recycled back into the air. The filter traps these particles and allows clean air to get filtered back through your system. If the filter is clogged, it can cause a breakdown of your HVAC systems. Replace the filter once per month with a brand new filter.

Your HVAC system should be maintained to ensure the systems work properly and to prevent premature breakdowns. Don't simply turn off your systems when not in use. Shut them off and perform maintenance tasks after the season to be sure the system will work properly the following season. Contact a heating installation service for more help.

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