How You Can Help Your Furnace Live Longer

Father and daughter wrapped in blanket

Your furnace is working round the clock to keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long. However, like any appliance, it does best with consistent upkeep to ensure it runs smoothly and to reduce the risk of any inconvenient breakdowns. Proper maintenance for your furnace can help it last years longer, especially compared to one left alone. It also means reduced heating costs!

1. Tidy Up Around the Furnace

Keeping the area around your furnace clean ensures steady, unobstructed airflow. Make sure the area is kept dust-free and well away from flammable materials. This avoids fire and similar safety risks, ensuring your furnace circulates more efficiently.

2. Keep Up with Routine HVAC Maintenance

Annual maintenance from a certified HVAC professional helps promote your furnace’s overall health. During the appointment, a technician checks, services and otherwise tunes up the system for best performance. This preventative care helps identify small issues before they become something more serious, preventing costly repairs. A regular tune-up also improves efficiency, cutting your monthly heating costs.

3. Invest in Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Another way to reduce your furnace’s overall workload is to take what steps you can to enhance your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation and sealing around windows and doors will minimize any heat loss, making it easier for your furnace to hold a comfortable temperature. As long as your furnace runs efficiently, it experiences less wear and tear, increasing its lifespan.

4. Address Any Repairs Immediately

If you begin to notice any unusual noises, uneven heating or higher energy bills, don’t postpone looking into these signs of trouble. Even small issues can gradually evolve into more severe situations. If left unresolved, it could shorten the lifespan of your furnace. Prompt furnace repairs can prevent further damage and keep your system safe.

5. Avoid Overworking Your Furnace

Setting your thermostat too high forces your furnace to work overtime, putting unnecessary strain on the entire system. This added energy load causes extra wear and tear. To avoid cutting your furnace’s lifespan short, set your thermostat to an energy-efficient temperature—for example between 68 and 72 degrees F. You can alternatively adjust the temperature by 8 to 10 degrees while you’re out of the house. These adjustments save energy and lessen any strain on your furnace. 

6. Replace the Filter Regularly

The filter blocks debris, pet hair and other airborne allergens to keep them out of the system’s more vulnerable components. Over time, the filter fills up with debris, obstructing ventilation and causing your furnace to exert more effort. This extra wear and tear could result in overheating and sometimes irreparable damage.

To keep things running smoothly, check and replace the filter on a regular basis, depending on your heating habits and the type of filter in place.

7. Consider Replacing an Old Furnace

As soon as your furnace is outdated and needs more frequent repairs, it may be time to consider a new model. Modern furnaces provide the best in heating technology while reducing energy consumption. Although the price tag may be higher than a repair, the total lifetime repair costs and increased efficiency make it worthwhile.

8. Install a Programmable Thermostat

A smart thermostat lets you set precise temperatures in your home, with features like scheduling automatic setbacks when you’re away or asleep. This limits the time your system is running, cutting costs and minimizing strain.

9. Keep All Vents and Registers Unblocked

Your furnace will only function best when the airflow between supply and return vents is balanced. Blocking or closing the majority of your supply registers can cause overheating or force your furnace to work harder. To help keep things running smoothly, regularly check that the air vents are open and free from being blocked by any rugs. This allows your furnace to distribute heat as intended. 

Trust Olympic Aire for Reliable Furnace Maintenance

Properly servicing your furnace prevents breakdowns, maximizes efficiency and can even extend its total potential lifespan. Olympic Aire is committed to helping you maintain a complete sense of comfort. Our certified technicians provide efficient, trustworthy service.

If it’s been a while since your last furnace tune-up or if you’re seeking customized recommendations to optimize your furnace, please contact us today!