Nobody wants to contend with a broken furnace in the dead of winter. This is peak season for most heating companies, so it may be several long hours or even days before a heating company can respond. During this time, you and your loved ones may grow increasingly uncomfortable in the home. In addition, you will be responsible for paying unexpected repair bills that can eat into your budget. The good news is that there are some easy steps you can take to minimize the number of furnace repair services you need throughout the year, and these steps may even delay the need for a new furnace installation by promoting excellent longevity of your system.
Keep Your Thermostat Properly Adjusted
One of the primary reasons why a furnace breaks down is because of wear and tear on its components. The more heavily or frequently you use the system, the greater the amount of wear and tear. With the use of a programmable thermostat that is properly set, you can prevent the unnecessary extra heating of your home during the times of day when you are typically not at home or while you are sleeping at night. This ensures that your furnace only operates on a truly as-needed basis.
Clean Your Air Filter Regularly
While over usage is a primary factor leading to unnecessary wear and tear on your furnace components, your air filters also play a critical role in this. When air filters are dirty, the system must make an extra effort to force air through the filter to circulate in the home. In addition, the system may need to run for longer periods of time than it otherwise would need to because of diminished airflow. When you change your air filter regularly, you promote optimal efficiency of the system. This can lead to reduced wear and tear as well as diminished repair services.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance Service
While these regular efforts on your part can go a long way toward keeping furnace repair services to a minimum, another great step to take is to schedule preventive maintenance service on your furnace regularly each year. This service cleans the components of your furnace. Just as a dirty air filter can affect efficiency, dirty system components can have the same effect. Preventive maintenance also can identify worn out components that may be causing reduced efficiency, and these can be replaced.
Even when care is taken to keep your system operating at peak efficiency, some furnace repair needs will develop. After all, all machines will break down at some point. However, by following these helpful tips, you can keep repair needs to a minimum.