7 Furnace Maintenance Tips

Furnace care comes down to seven habits: change the filter, keep vents and returns open, clear the space around the furnace, test the thermostat early, check your carbon monoxide alarms, pay attention to how the furnace behaves, and schedule professional maintenance. The first six are yours to handle. The seventh is what a technician is for.

Do the first few before the first cold snap arrives, ideally in early fall while the weather is still mild. Tri-Cities furnaces sit quiet through a long summer and then go straight to work.

• Change the filter regularly.
• Keep supply registers and return grilles open.
• Keep the area around the furnace clear.
• Test the thermostat before you need it.
• Check carbon monoxide alarms.
• Listen, look and smell for changes.
• Book professional maintenance every year.

Filter, vents and clearance

A 1 inch filter usually needs replacing every one to three months during the heating season, and sooner if the house is dusty or you have pets. A dirty filter makes the furnace run hotter and work harder.

Check the size printed on the frame, and install the new filter with the airflow arrow pointing toward the furnace, the direction the air moves. A filter put in backwards, or one that is the wrong size and leaves a gap, lets dust bypass it.

Walk through the house and make sure every supply register and return grille is open and not covered by furniture or rugs. Then look at the furnace itself. Keep boxes, chemicals and clutter away from it. Anything flammable stored near a furnace is a hazard, and a crowded furnace room can restrict the air it needs.

Test the thermostat early

Switch to heat and raise the setpoint a few degrees above room temperature to confirm the furnace starts and warms the house. Do this on a mild day so a problem is a nuisance, not an emergency. Replace thermostat batteries if yours uses them, and check that any schedule still matches how you live.

If the furnace does not come on, check that the thermostat has power, the furnace switch is on, and the filter is not badly clogged, since some furnaces will not run with blocked airflow. Beyond that, leave the burner compartment closed and call a technician.

Carbon monoxide alarms

Every gas furnace home should have working carbon monoxide alarms on each level and near bedrooms. Test them following the manufacturer's instructions and replace them on the schedule printed on the unit. If one sounds, turn the furnace off, get outside if anyone feels unwell, and call a licensed technician.

Notice what has changed

You will hear the first sounds of the season before anyone else does. A brief burnt-dust smell on the first run is normal, since dust has settled on the heat exchanger over summer. A persistent burning smell, banging, squealing, or a furnace that cycles on and off is not. A smell of gas is an emergency, so leave the house and call from outside.

High-efficiency furnaces also drain water through a condensate line. If you see water near the furnace, or a plastic drain pipe that looks blocked, call rather than experimenting.

Book the professional visit

Cleaning burners, checking the ignition and flame sensor, measuring gas pressure and inspecting the heat exchanger are jobs for a licensed technician, and never for a homeowner. Air-Tech's AT Advantage Program plans include two visits a year, and the technician can catch small worn parts before they fail on a cold night.

Ask the technician to explain what they found, and keep the paperwork. A record of yearly service helps you spot patterns and makes it easier to judge repair versus replace when the time comes.

To schedule a furnace check, call Air-Tech at (509) 392-2021 and we will find a time that works for you.