7 Ways You Can Extend Your Furnace Life Expectancy
Most furnaces in Pelham, AL, should have a service life of 15 to 20 years. However, without the right knowledge of how to use and maintain your heating system, you may shave years off its lifespan. Follow these seven simple steps to extend your furnace life expectancy:
Change the Air Filter Routinely
The air filter is one of the most important but often neglected items for maintaining a furnace. Air can’t flow into and through the system when the filter clogs, causing excessive strain and wear on the furnace.
Check the filter monthly, watching for it to become visibly dirty over the filtering material. You can extend the filter’s life by gently vacuuming the intake side when you check. If you have the common 1- or 2-inch filter, plan to replace it every 30 to 90 days.
Resolve Furnace Problems Quickly
When there’s a minor problem with your furnace, it’s tempting to ignore it. Many people hope that it will resolve itself, which doesn’t usually happen in a mechanical system.
Any problem with a furnace adds preventable strain on the heating system, which increases the wear, slowly reducing its service life. As soon as you notice that something seems off with your heating system, call to schedule a furnace repair.
Use a Programmable Thermostat
Digital and smart thermostats have a programmable feature. Their programs allow you to adjust the temperature for times when you’re sleeping or not at home. The Department of Energy recommends reducing the temperature by 7 to 10 degrees for at least eight hours a day.
Besides reducing your annual heating expenses, this reduces the strain on your system. With a lower temperature for several hours, the furnace won’t have to run as much, reducing wear and tear.
Keep the Temperature Fairly Constant
Aside from running your programs, avoid adjusting your temperature while you’re at home. Ideally, keep the same temperature setting for at least eight hours.
Adjusting your thermostat throughout the day makes your furnace start and stop more frequently. It’s the beginning and end of the cycle that’s the hardest on your system. When you make the system start more often, you add considerable strain and wear.
Run Your Ceiling Fans Clockwise
Hot air rises because it’s less dense than cooler air, which means the warmth is near your ceiling. Running your ceiling fans clockwise creates an updraft that reaches the warm air and circulates it around the room.
Tend to Your Home’s Air Quality
Your home’s air quality is an issue for household members’ health and your furnace’s efficiency. Poor air quality clogs the filter more quickly and allows more contaminants to settle into the ducts and the furnace.
Aside from changing your filter regularly, work to manage your home’s air quality. One of the best steps is keeping the relative indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. Higher humidity encourages the growth of biological contaminants, while lower humidity dries out particles, allowing them to stay airborne longer.
Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
Scheduling annual furnace maintenance is one of the best ways to give your furnace its longest possible life. A maintenance service technician will clean the system, lubricate fan bearings, and tighten mounting hardware and electrical connections.
They also test components in the system, looking for indications that a part is wearing out and needs replacing. This last part of testing saves the most strain on your system by ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
You can extend your furnace life when you know the right steps to take before and throughout the winter. Call Air Experts today to schedule your fall furnace maintenance appointment in Pelham or the surrounding areas with one of our certified service technicians.
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