In Minnesota, we have impressively cold winters, and a poorly running furnace may not keep up with the demands placed upon it. With a little foresight, you can help your furnace do its job by taking these four key actions:
Maintain your furnace
Without proper care, a furnace will become less efficient and eventually break down. Maintaining your furnace is critical for proper continued function.
Accumulation of dirt, along with general neglect, are the main reasons for furnace failure. Check your furnace filter once every month, especially during peak use in winter and summer. Changing it when dirty, at least every three months, is a simple procedure you can do to keep your furnace clean and well functioning.
Have your furnace tuned up by a professional for more thorough maintenance. The best times for a complete tune-up are before winter’s high use period. This is also when contractors are most busy, so schedule your tune-up in the fall around the daylight savings time change.
Use a programmable thermostat
Help your furnace do its job by installing a programmable thermostat and set it to energy saving temperatures when you’re away. By doing so, you can reap significant savings on your energy bills. These thermostats come in several models, providing you with options that fit your family’s needs.
Seal and insulate
About 20 percent of heated air in a typical home is lost through leaks or improperly connected ducts, according to the federal Energy Star program. The result is an added load on your heating and cooling systems, as well as increased energy bills and difficulty keeping the house at a constant and comfortable temperature. Sealing air leaks and leaky ducts will help your HVAC equipment do its job more efficiently, as will adequate insulation in the right places.
Work with your contractor
Work with a professional contractor who will examine and repair your ducts, particularly those areas that you can’t access. The contractor can determine if your ducts only need sealing, or if they require repairs or retrofitting.
For more expert advice on how to help your furnace do its job, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning. We have been serving the Twin Cities area since 1974.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock