5 Tips for Making Your Furnace Last Longer in California, MD
The cold winter weather in California, MD, puts a lot of strain on your furnace. The life expectancy of a gas furnace is typically around 15 years, but there is a good chance it won’t last this long if you don’t take steps to protect it and ensure it is in good condition. With that in mind, here are some simple tips to help you get the most out of your furnace and ensure it continues working for years to come.
1. Don’t Neglect Yearly Furnace Maintenance
Having your furnace inspected and maintained every year by a certified HVAC technician is by far the best thing you can do to protect its life span. Furnace inspections are obviously essential for making sure that the unit doesn’t need any repairs and is operating safely, and maintenance tune-ups are vital for ensuring that the heating system is working efficiently and effectively. Without regular maintenance, the performance will quickly suffer, making your heating system run longer and greatly increasing the wear and tear on it.
2. Replace Your Air Filter Regularly
Your HVAC air filter traps dust and debris to prevent it from entering the furnace and air handler and potentially obstructing its components or causing damage. If you don’t replace the filter regularly, it will quickly become clogged and lead to a huge reduction in airflow.
Reduced airflow means that your furnace will produce much less heat and thus run for longer and experience greater strain. This issue can also lead to overheating, which can damage its wiring and electrical connections and potentially cause the heat exchanger to crack. You can easily avoid all of these issues by checking the condition of your filter regularly and making sure to replace it once every 30 to 90 days or whenever it looks dark and dirty.
3. Don’t Wait to Have Your Furnace Repaired
Whenever your heating system is running, you should always be on the lookout for any signs that may indicate it isn’t working correctly. Unusual noises, poor airflow, lack of sufficient heat, or cold spots in some parts of the building can all indicate that you need furnace repairs. The same is also true if your heating costs suddenly spike or your furnace starts running almost constantly.
If you do notice any issues, you should immediately have your furnace inspected and repaired. Many furnace issues start off fairly minor and are easy to fix. However, if you put the repairs off, the issue could turn much more serious and lead to much more expensive repairs or potentially ruin the furnace altogether.
4. Make Sure Your Ductwork Isn’t Leaking
Leaking or damaged ductwork will also greatly reduce the effectiveness of your heating system and force your furnace to work much harder to keep you warm. This will not only raise your energy bills but also lead to more wear and tear and can cause it to fail more quickly. For this reason, we also recommend having your ductwork inspected regularly and resealed or repaired as needed.
5. Keep Your Vents Open
Many people attempt to improve the effectiveness of their heating system by closing some of the air vents in an effort to direct more heat to certain parts of the building. While that may not appear to be a big problem, your system is air balanced so every vent is part of a closed loop system. If you close vents in various rooms, you’ll affect the pressure of the system. You also want to make sure that the vents aren’t clogged or obstructed by furniture or other items.
Keeping your furnace working properly and in good shape isn’t difficult. As long as you pay attention and are diligent about keeping your furnace well-maintained, it should continue to function effectively for many more years. If you need any heating or cooling services in California, MD, contact Hancock Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning, and we’ll be happy to help.
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