5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Furnace
If you’ve recently purchased a new furnace, you’ve made one big step toward having a warm, comfortable home all winter long and for the foreseeable future. But, if you want your new appliance to have a long, healthy lifespan and save you money down the road, you need to take the time to consistently give it proper care. Luckily, keeping your furnace in great shape is relatively simple, and there are a few steps you can take to achieve it.
1. Clean Your Air Filter
If you want your furnace to continue running efficiently, regularly cleaning out its air filter is an extremely important step. The air filter prevents things like dust and loose debris from getting into the workings of your furnace and clogging it up. However, the furnace needs to regularly pull air through that filter, and if the filter itself gets too dirty and clogged, it’s much more difficult for it to do so. This causes it to waste more energy and also accumulate more wear and tear. We recommend that you check the air filter once a month.
2. Keep Up with Regular Maintenance
At least once a year, it’s very beneficial to have a trained heating professional come give your new furnace an inspection and tune-up. This makes sure that none of the appliance’s many components are at risk of having problems and ensures that the furnace is able to operate at maximum energy efficiency. Ultimately, hiring technicians for this maintenance will be an investment, as it will save you significant money in the long run. If you need furnace maintenance in the Nacogdoches, TX area, we at Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. can provide you with dependable, affordable service for all of your heating needs.
3. Purchase a Humidifier
Typically, the air both outside and in our homes tends to contain significantly less moisture during the colder months. Many people are unaware, though, that this dryness in the air actually makes it feels like it’s much colder than it really is. This is because dry air has a much harder time transferring heat around. By adding a humidifier to your house, you can raise the moisture level of the air within, and you may be surprised at how much warmer it suddenly feels. This allows you to lower the thermostat and take some of the pressure off of your furnace, which can help keep it working in the long run.
4. Clean Out Your Vents
The air vents in your household have a very important purpose when it comes to heating, as your furnace uses them as a means to distribute warm air throughout the home. However, things like dust, dirt, and other loose debris piling up inside of those vents can make it much harder for your furnace to consistently push air through. Whenever your furnace has to work harder, it’s going to become less energy efficient and more likely to need repairs. To avoid this issue, make a point once a month to remove the protective panels from your vents with a screwdriver, and use a long vacuum hose extension to thoroughly clean them all out.
5. Use Your Curtains and Blinds
You may not know just how effective your curtains and blinds can be at taking the pressure off of your heating system. Curtains are actually very good at keeping warm air trapped inside your home, meaning that if you close them in the evening, you can make your house feel warmer without cranking up the furnace. On the other hand, when the sun is shining outside, make a point to open up all of your curtains or blinds and let that warm sunlight fill up your home. Remember, giving your furnace a rest for even a few hours a day can make a big difference.
If you decide it’s time to get your furnace that tune-up, or if it needs to be repaired or replaced, we at Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. reliably offer all of these services to the greater Nacogdoches area. If you don’t have any current heating needs, we also have trained experts that provide cooling, plumbing and even sheet metal fabrication services in a timely and affordable manner.
