Father and daughter wrapped in blanket

How You Can Help Your Furnace Live Longer

Your furnace works tirelessly to keep your home at a warm, comfortable temperature all winter long. Still, like any other utility, it should be given routine care from trained technicians to ensure it runs smoothly and to hopefully prevent any inconvenient breakdowns. Taking care of your furnace makes it more likely to last years longer, especially compared to one that is poorly maintained. It also means lower energy bills!

1. Tidy Up Around the Furnace

Keeping the space around your furnace clear encourages airflow and safe operation. Make sure the area is clean and well away from hazardous materials. This avoids fire and similar safety risks, ensuring your furnace circulates more effectively.

2. Schedule Yearly HVAC Tune-Ups

Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional ensures your furnace’s overall health. During the appointment, your technician examines, cleans and otherwise optimizes the system for best performance. This regular preventive maintenance helps identify small issues before they escalate, preventing costly failures. Regular maintenance also reduces energy waste, lowering your monthly energy bills.

3. Reduce Your Home’s Energy Loss

Another way to reduce your furnace’s potential workload is to take what steps you can to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and sealing around windows and doors will reduce heat loss, allowing your furnace to hold a comfortable temperature. As long as your furnace operates more easily, it suffers less wear and tear, increasing its lifespan.

4. Fix Problems as Soon as You Notice

If you notice unusual noises, uneven heating or unexpected utility spikes, don’t delay checking out these signs of trouble. Even small issues can quickly develop into more severe breakdowns. If left ignored, it could affect the total lifespan of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs can prevent further damage and keep your system running.

5. Set Your Furnace to a Reasonable Temperature

Setting your thermostat beyond energy-efficient levels forces your furnace to run way too much, putting unnecessary strain on the entire system. This constant demand leads to reduced efficiency. To avoid cutting your furnace’s lifespan short, set your thermostat to an energy-efficient temperature—for example between 68-72° F. You can alternatively adjust the temperature by a few degrees while you’re sleeping. These simple changes save energy and prevent any excess wear on your furnace. 

6. Change the Filter on a Regular Basis

The filter traps dust, fur and other airborne particles to prevent them from entering the system’s more sensitive components. Over time, the filter fills up with debris, restricting airflow and causing your furnace to operate less efficiently. This added strain could result in overheating and sometimes irreparable damage.

To maintain efficient performance, remember to check and replace the filter around every 1 to 3 months, depending on total usage and the type of filter you use.

7. Invest in a Modern Furnace When the Time Is Right

If your furnace is old and breaks down more often, it may be time to upgrade. Modern furnaces provide the best in heating technology while reducing energy consumption. Although the upfront cost may be higher than a repair, the smaller utility bills and better performance make it worthwhile.

8. Use a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat lets you set precise temperatures in your home, with features like scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re not home or in bed. This limits operating time, lowering your energy bill and minimizing strain.

9. Keep All Vents and Registers Unblocked

Your furnace will only function best when the ventilation between supply and return vents is balanced. Sealing off more than 80% of your supply registers can result in overheating or force your furnace to work itself too hard. To help keep things running smoothly, make sure that the air vents are open and free from being blocked by any curtains. This enables your furnace to distribute heat as intended. 

Trust Mark Allen for Reliable Furnace Maintenance

Properly servicing your furnace avoids any premature, costly failures, enhances its day-to-day operation and can even ensures a long service life. Mark Allen takes pride in helping you maintain a complete sense of comfort. Our experienced technicians provide fast, reliable service.

If it’s been a while since your last maintenance visit or if you’re interested in more personalized advice to strengthen your furnace, please contact us today!