When cold weather approaches, you can keep your home comfortable by making sure your furnace is operating properly. Some simple tips from Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative will help keep the heat flowing this winter.
Replace that filter!
Changing the air filter is the most important – and maybe the most overlooked – maintenance tip. Restricted air filters are the leading cause of furnace failures.
“It is important and a lot of people look past it. They say, ‘Oh yeah, I changed it last year.’ It should be changed at least once a month,” says Heidi Haugen-Grohs, the member services manager for Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative.
Replacing your furnace air filer allows air to flow through the furnace easily, which keeps the furnace from overheating. Furnace filters should be replaced each month during the heating season.
And purchase the correct type of filter for a furnace’s operation, Strong advises. A low-cost pleated filter is recommended.
“A lot of people think if they buy a $20 to $25 air filter that they’re doing the right thing. In reality, the expensive air filters are usually very restrictive, so they’ll filter everything under the sun, but they also don’t let any air through either. They’re kind of like a HEPA filter. So, I tell people to buy a low-cost pleated filter. That usually gets you the best of both worlds. It’s not real expensive and it does a decent job at filtering,” Haugen-Grohs says.
Expensive filters are usually restrictive and do not allow enough airflow, which causes furnace problems. Furnace filters are meant to keep your HVAC equipment clean. They are not meant to improve your home’s air quality. Buy a separate HEPA air filtration system if you desire better air quality. “The furnace filter is meant to just keep your HVAC equipment clean. It’s not meant for better quality air,” Haugen-Grohs says.
Open those vents!
“It’s all about good air flow when it comes to heating and cooling equipment,” Haugen-Grohs says.
So, open air vents or registers. Many people think they are helping themselves by closing air vents in unused rooms. When too many vents are closed, airflow is reduced, causing the furnace to overheat, which causes components to wear out prematurely and makes the furnace less efficient.
And clear exhaust vents. If you use a gas or fuel oil furnace, make sure your exhaust vent or chimney is clear of any obstructions. New, high-efficiency propane furnaces are typically vented out the side of the house, making obstructions like ice buildup more likely to occur. If you suspect your exhaust is blocked, call a trained service technician if you are unable to clear the obstruction. Electric furnaces do not have exhaust vents.
And replace your air filter! Yes, it is that important! Spending $5 every month to replace your furnace filter can save you hundreds of dollars in service fees and will make your furnace last longer.