Autumn temperatures are falling, and folks in Bath, PA are firing up their furnace to heat their homes again. You may be thinking about how long it will be before you need to replace your furnace, and you may want to know what you can do to get more mileage out of it before that day comes. So, here are six ways to make your furnace last longer.
1. Replace Furnace Filters Several Times a Year
Cleaning or changing out your furnace filters as needed is probably the most important thing you can do to extend the life of your heating system. While most manufacturers recommend replacing air filters every 90 days, your needs may vary depending on how much you use your furnace throughout the year. For some households, replacing filters once a month might be necessary.
Here’s a simple way to check your filter: Hold it up to the light, and replace it if little or no light shines through. You can also compare your dirty filter side-by-side with a brand-new filter to gauge the amount of dust, pet fur and debris accumulating on it.
2. Seal Off Air Leaks
Air leaks are a major problem for your HVAC system. When your ductwork has cracks and holes for air to escape, or when your doors and windows have cracked weather stripping that allows cold air from outside to sneak in, that heat loss causes your heating system to work overtime to maintain the desired temperature in your home. This is bad news for your monthly utility bill, and it causes your furnace to wear out faster.
3. Insulate Your Attic
Since warm air rises inside your home, your attic becomes your last line of defense for holding in that heat. But an attic with worn-out or inadequate insulation allows for a lot of heat loss. So just as with air leaks, this heat loss decreases your furnace’s efficiency and causes it to run more frequently to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
4. Bundle Up and Use Ceiling Fans
One way to indirectly improve the longevity of your furnace is to use ceiling fans to circulate the air in your house. Since warm air rises and accumulates near the ceiling of each room, running the ceiling fan on slow setting can spread that warm air around so that you can feel it without needing to crank up the heat. Lowering your thermostat by even a couple of degrees can save you money on utility bills and reduce the strain on your furnace.
One more easy way to keep that thermostat turned down is to simply dress a little warmer inside your home. Toss on a comfy sweater and wear heavy socks or house slippers to stay warm without your heating system having to lift a finger.
5. Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
As a homeowner, you likely already know how deferred maintenance can create many problems for you and your home. Things just break down more frequently when people don’t take good care of them, and that certainly applies to your furnace. Maintaining and using it efficiently are the keys to making your furnace last longer.
Sign up for annual preventive maintenance for your furnace. Besides changing your HVAC system filters regularly, these tune-ups are the next best way to ensure that your furnace lasts as long as possible before replacement. It’s also the best way to discover and fix minor repair issues before they get worse and do more damage.
6. Make Repairs as Needed
Lastly, repairing your furnace as soon as possible is another crucial step for extending the life of your heating unit. Your furnace is a complex machine, not unlike your car in that minor repairs left untreated create bigger problems down the road. Plan ahead, and keep up with professional maintenance and furnace inspections so that we can address problems immediately.
Follow these six simple tips to extend the life of your furnace. And contact Sullivan Oil and Propane right away if your home needs furnace repairs.
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