Some furnace care is easy to do yourself. Some of it should only be done by a professional. Here is where the line is.
Plenty of homeowners like to handle their own maintenance, and some furnace care is easy to do yourself. But a furnace burns fuel inside your home, so it's important to know where homeowner maintenance ends and professional service begins.
What you can do yourself
- Change the filter regularly. This is the single most useful thing a homeowner can do.
- Keep the furnace area clear of storage and anything flammable.
- Vacuum around the outside of the unit and the floor around it.
- Keep vents and returns open and free of furniture and rugs.
- Test your carbon monoxide detectors and replace their batteries on schedule.
What should be left to a professional
A complete furnace cleaning is best left to HVAC professionals. A qualified technician:
- cleans the combustion area and burner,
- adjusts the burner and checks it is working properly,
- removes and cleans the blower assembly, and
- tests the whole system before restarting it.
These steps involve gas components, electrical connections and parts that must be reassembled correctly. A mistake can affect how safely the furnace burns.
Warranty and repair costs
Skipping professional maintenance may void your furnace warranty, and small problems that go unnoticed can turn into expensive repairs. An annual professional cleaning is a modest cost compared with replacing a major part.
The best approach
Do the simple things yourself throughout the year, and have a professional clean and check the furnace once a year. That combination keeps the system efficient and safe.
Book your annual furnace cleaning at 403-651-5895.
All posts