Furnace Maintenance: It’s not just about Safety

A Safe Home Requires Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance becomes progressively important as the days turn colder. October is a surprisingly bad month for CO poisoning as problems can arise the first a furnace is started up after months.

By Rebecca Martin

It’s that time of the year when the days are counting down to that moment you will be turning on your furnace for the first time this Fall.  Yearly inspections and maintenance are an important part of the season.

There are multiple reasons that an annual inspection is part of seasonal preparations.

The best furnace maintenance tip is to hire a professional HVAC tech to do preventative maintenance, at least every fall before you turn the heat on.

Annual inspections can stop minor issues from escalating into major issues and identify repairs that may be imminent. Addressing small maintenance issues can head off major repairs and costly replacements. Annual maintenance can increase furnace efficiency and reduce the wear and tear on furnace components. By postponing minor repairs, you can reduce the life of your furnace by up to 10 years.

It is not just your expensive HVAC system that benefits, your home electronics benefit too. A poorly functioning furnace can cause an increase of dust and debris in your home that can impact the life expectancy of the electronics in your home. Air intake grills can become clogged causing equipment to overheat and fail.

Furnace Maintenance Saves Money

Of course, a well-maintained furnace can also save you money on energy bills. The U.S. Department of Energy found that annual maintenance can save you up to 30% on energy bills.

This year, energy costs may be a major concern. In an article from CNN, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association is warning that home heating costs are expected to rise. A jump of 10.5% is expected on average.  Although those who use electricity will be hit the hardest due to upgrades to the power grid, natural gas users will see a 7.2% rise in costs, while propane users are close behind with a 7.2% rise.  Oil will be trailing with a 6.1% rise. This is a hard blow for families who have come out of an exceptionally hot summer and now are facing what is expected to be a very cold winter. https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/economy/home-heating-costs-winter-bill/index.html

With these kinds of fuel costs, inspection and maintenance are more important than ever. There are tips for lowering energy costs. Making sure windows and doors are sealed, letting the sun in during the day and turning the thermostat down at night.

According to Groundworks, you can save 20% by insulating or encapsulating crawl spaces, 5-3-% by sealing air leaks using caulk, spray foam and weather stripping, 12-33% by installing storm windows, 10% by using programmable thermostats. Of course, switching to energy efficient furnaces have a large impact but not necessarily as large as other energy saving measures, saving about 15% of heating costs. There is a tax credit for installing insulation of up to $1200 in effect until December 31, 2032. These tax credits also are available for new doors and windows. ($250 per door, $500 total) windows ($600), and home energy audits ($150). Information on the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit are available at the IRS.

Furnace Maintenance Includes Looking for Rust

Furnace maintenance should include cleaning burners, checking that they are lighting properly, checking for any rust or corrosion and for any cracks in the heat exchanger. An inspection of venting systems should be done during any routine inspection.

Most homeowners won’t recognize a cracked heat exchanger, which is why you should have a professional HVAC maintenance done every fall. If you see rust or corrosion, don’t turn the furnace on until it has been checked by an HVAC tech.

So, assuming you have had your inspection and any maintenance done, what should you expect when you turn on your furnace for the first time? You will probably smell a faint burning smell. This is normal and is the result of the dust burning off the heat exchanger after a summer of inactivity.

If it smells like rotten eggs or natural gas turn off the furnace and call a professional.

If it persists, you should contact a heating professional to make sure the furnace is functioning properly. Common reasons for a burning smell after the first use would be a clogged air filter, overheating due to a clogged filter or an electrical issue. Electrical issues could be dangerous and should be addressed immediately.

But this is not where routine maintenance ends.

The air filter is extremely important and should be changed periodically. A handy guide to choosing the correct air filter is available at ecomfort.com and also at Consumer Reports. If you have an owner’s manual available, follow manufacturer’s recommendations. If you do not have a manual available, you should be able to find it online at the manufacturer’s website.

According to Around The Clock Heating and Air Conditioning:

“Look for the Removable Cover: In most furnaces, the filter sits directly behind a removable access panel” This cover is often located at the front or side of the furnace and may be of plastic or metal construction. It can be slid and locked by use of screws, or it can be slid and locked.”

There are also a multitude of YouTube videos on the subject. Adding a furnace air filter to your grocery shopping list and selecting a day of the month for replacement will go a long way to keeping your furnace operating safely and efficiently.

Furnace Maintenance must Include Checking Exhaust Flues

It is also important to become familiar with ducts and vents inside and outside your home. Outdoor vents can become clogged with debris, snow, or even an animal. A lot of the time, a furnace that is difficult to start is a sign of a blocked exhaust vent. This can cause carbon monoxide to accumulate in the home.

There are many things to look for to determine if your furnace is functioning correctly: Increased energy bills, cold air, turns on but no heat, strange noises, a pilot light that is not bright blue, malfunctioning thermostat, blower working nonstop and most importantly, an alarming carbon monoxide detector.

RUST IS VERY BAD INSIDE YOUR FURNACE.

Keep Cold Air Returns Free of Obstructions

There is also a misconception that covering interior air vents can help redistribute heat in the house. Closing off a vent does not register with your furnace; it will continue to pump air into that vent, and this can cause a buildup of air pressure and eventually damage the entire system. It can even damage your heat exchanger and lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Closing off vents can also cause leaks in your duct system. Another effect of shutting off vents is that they can produce mold and mildew, which creates another health issue. Instead of saving money, the furnace will work harder thus negating your efforts to save money.

You should also be aware that curtains, furniture and rugs should be moved away from vents. This will not only help your furnace, but it will increase the lifespan of your furnishings. There are many types of deflecting registers available at any hardware store to find a happy medium between furniture placement and furnace health. While you might think a sofa over a register won’t hurt, it will decrease the lifespan of your sofa. A simple idea is to stick a narrow sofa table between a sofa and the wall to give the vent greater airflow with less impact on your furniture. Vents are there for a reason.

Keep Area Around Appliances Free

Blocking your furnace is even more hazardous. Make sure that furnace areas are clear and free from storage items, or debris. The floor around a furnace should be kept clean of dirt and debris and ideally vacuumed to reduce dust. By keeping the furnace area clean you can prevent overheating and inefficiency and provide good airflow.

Prevention of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning the Only Cure

You shouldn’t forget carbon monoxide detectors. There should be a carbon monoxide detector on every level of the home and within 10 feet of any area where people sleep. There should be a carbon monoxide detector within 10 feet of an attached garage and 15 feet away from any fuel-powered appliances or placed within 15 feet of a fireplace. They should not be placed in direct sunlight, in high humidity areas like bathrooms, behind furniture or in a drawer or cabinet, or near windows or doors or vents.

Recently I read an article about a city which has a yearly carbon monoxide detector day to alert the population of what day to check their carbon monoxide detectors. I thought this was such a brilliant idea for a city to use some promotional funding to spread the word.  Some cities are instituting carbon monoxide awareness weeks, and some cities are even celebrating pet carbon monoxide days. The rest of us can be inspired by this idea to put carbon monoxide day on our own calendars and making a conscious effort to check our detectors, change batteries if needed and replace them if necessary. Over and over, carbon monoxide detectors save lives, and they are such an inexpensive insurance policy.

Furnace maintenance is important. It makes your home safer and it helps your pocketbook, two very good reasons to schedule it now.