The Importance of Regular Furnace Maintenance

Posted by MoneySavvy on Aug 1st, 2010 | no comments home title

Are you sufficiently warm in the winter? That is due to your furnace. Homes use them to warm the air that is delivered throughout the house via ducts. Taking care of your furnace is important if you want it to continue to take care of you.

Where is your furnace? It could be in the basement (if you have one) or in the attic or a closet of your home. Many furnaces use natural gas to heat the air and also to make them less costly to the homeowner.

Furnaces can be one of those things, like the engine oil in a car, that we take for granted will always work the right way without any intervention from us. But, there might come a time when your luck will run out, like that oil, and you will be left with a problem. No one wants that to occur and especially at a time of the year when heat is most needed.

One reason to have your furnace checked on a regular basis is for energy efficiency. When your furnace is running at optimum, the air is moving through the ducts unobstructed. Because your home is insulated, you can keep your thermostat at a certain temperature and still feel warm enough to be comfortable in your home even on the coldest days.

Maintenance includes cleaning the filters. Filters are used to collect dust, allergens and other airborne particles so that they are not present in the air. When the filter is full, the system has to work harder to pump good, clean air through the ducts.

That extra work can place greater wear and tear on the system and its component parts. You could be headed for a breakdown. Despite what your warranty says, you could be replacing parts well before their time if dirt gets in the system from an unclean filter. That means money out of your pocket.

Also, the air is less clean. You may not notice it but those in your household who suffer from allergies will be keenly aware of it. They may cough or sneeze more and become generally irritated in the home due to a furnace that is not maintained well.

Furnace maintenance can protect your life. Furnaces can sustain cracks or leaks. Gas leaks in the home can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. This is an odorless gas that slowly replaces the oxygen in the blood leading to asphyxiation. A sulfur-like compound is added to natural gas so that you can detect the odor but it could be too late.

The furnace serves an important function in the home. It heats your house throughout the winter so that you stay nice and comfortable. Regular maintenance can prevent untimely breakdowns and potentially life-threatening hazards.