How to Extend the Service Life of Your Furnace

Most furnaces last somewhere between 15 and 20 years, and where yours lands in that range depends less on the brand than on how hard it works and how clean it stays. The good news is that the habits that stretch a furnace's life are small, cheap and easy to fit into a normal year.

Winters in Pasco, Kennewick and Richland are cold enough to keep a furnace busy from November through February, and the dust that blows in during our dry summers is still sitting in the system when the heat comes on. Here is what makes the biggest difference.

Keep the filter fresh

The filter is the cheapest part in your heating system and the one most often forgotten. A clogged filter restricts airflow, so the blower strains and the furnace runs hotter than it was designed to. That extra heat and effort add up over a decade.

A standard 1 inch filter usually needs replacing every one to three months, and thicker media filters can go longer. Homes with pets, remodelling dust or a lot of foot traffic sit at the short end. Check it monthly during the heating season and you will quickly learn your own rhythm. Make sure the size matches the slot exactly, because a filter that leaves gaps lets dust straight past it.

Get a tune-up before the cold arrives

A furnace is a collection of parts that wear at different rates: the burners, the igniter, the flame sensor, the blower motor, the belts on some models. A technician who looks at them once a year catches a lazy igniter or a dirty burner before it turns into a no-heat call on the coldest night of the year.

Fall is the sensible time, since the furnace has been idle for months and the shop is not yet buried in emergency calls. A visit also includes checking combustion and safety controls, which is work that should always be left to a licensed technician.

Watch the humidity

Our climate is dry, and in winter indoor air can get very dry indeed. Some homes use a whole-house humidifier to compensate. That can be a good thing, but only in moderation. Too much moisture can cause condensation on windows and corrosion inside the equipment, while very dry air makes wood floors and skin unhappy.

If you run a humidifier, keep its water panel clean and have the setting checked when your system is serviced. A small hygrometer from a hardware store tells you what your home is actually doing, and it costs very little.

Reduce how hard the furnace has to work

Every hour a furnace runs is an hour of wear, so anything that cuts its workload extends its life. The list below covers the usual suspects.

• Seal drafts around doors, windows, attic hatches and outlets on exterior walls.
• Keep supply registers and return grilles clear of furniture, rugs and curtains.
• Use a programmable or smart thermostat to lower the temperature a few degrees while everyone is out or asleep.
• Close doors to rooms you seldom use only if your technician says your system handles it well, since blocked airflow can also stress a furnace.

None of this asks you to live in a cold house. It just means the furnace cycles sensibly instead of running flat out.

Know when age becomes the problem

Even a well-kept furnace eventually reaches the end. Rising repair calls, uneven heat, a yellow or flickering flame, new noises and a climbing bill are all signs that replacement is worth a conversation. A cracked heat exchanger is a safety matter, and anything involving gas or combustion belongs with a licensed professional, never a do-it-yourself fix.

Air-Tech has been serving Tri-Cities homeowners since 2007, and the AT Advantage Program puts two visits a year on the calendar so your furnace gets looked after in both seasons. Call the office at (509) 392-2021 to ask how a plan would fit your home.