Furnaces are big investments! It’s important to keep them in good condition for as long as possible. You certainly don’t want to require a replacement anytime soon. And the energy cost of heating is a big investment, too. Paying extra just because of a furnace running inefficiently would be miserable. So what can you do to make sure your furnace stays happy and healthy?
Annual maintenance must be done by qualified professional HVAC technicians. But that’s just once a year. There’s definitely something you can do more often! Your furnace has an air filter, and that air filter needs to be changed. Why? When? How? We’ve got the answers to your questions.
Keeping Your Furnace Clean
During your annual maintenance appointment, your technician will do a remarkable job cleaning the entirety of your furnace. Components will be disassembled for cleaning, so not one speck of mess will remain. But throughout the year, a huge amount of air will pass through your heating system, and that air will bring stuff with it. Your furnace’s air filter protects the system from these particles.
The two biggest hazards of particles in your furnace are friction and insulation. Friction occurs when something works its way between moving parts, and will lead to increased wear and tear, potential damage to components, and overheating. Insulation happens when dust accumulates in a way that keeps heat inside the furnace instead of passing through. This can lead to electrical issues and, again, overheating.
Keeping Air Circulating
Having a furnace air filter means those particles will be trapped. But over time, the filter will get so clogged with dust, pet hair, and more that it will be harder and harder for air to pass through the filter. Without good airflow, you’ll have heat getting trapped in the furnace, potentially tripping the limit switch and shutting the system down, and not enough heat circulating through your home.
Air Filter Changes
To prevent this from happening, you will regularly need a clean air filter. This job will be done by your technician during maintenance, but it needs to be done much more frequently than once a year. It’s recommended that furnace air filters be changed monthly. At times of year, when your furnace only gets occasional use, it can be changed less often. If you have a lot of dust and pet hair, it should be changed more often.
The general procedure is straightforward. Turn off the furnace, remove the old filter, slide a new one into position, and turn the furnace back on. If it’s an older gas furnace, you may need to re-light the pilot. If you’re not feeling confident about this process, there will be clear instructions specific to your furnace in your owner’s manual.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us, whether you have air filter questions or need to schedule maintenance or other heating services in Grand Rapids, MN.
Reach out to Mesaba Heating & Air Conditioning today. Service to you is success to us!