Modern home heating systems are usually designed for easy maintenance and free of any trouble. However, you do have to understand that in order for any type of system to efficiently function and operate, it has to have regular maintenance and heating repair service. So no matter what type of furnace you have at home, there are various things you need to do in order to make sure it is and will always be in tiptop condition all throughout its life.

Although it is true that some aspects of furnace maintenance are quite complicated to do and should only be left to an expert HVAC contractor, there are other heating and air conditioning repair jobs that you conveniently can do on your own. Know that when the furnace is running the way it’s supposed to, you’re going to save a lot of money and use it for other purposes instead of putting it all on heating repair.

In this article, we will focus on one thing: cleaning your furnace…

How to Clean a Furnace at Home

Dirt is certainly the worst enemy of any type of furnace. Aside from the fact that it can damage and break it when left ignored, it can also waste away fuel and in the process decrease the level of efficiency. There are several cases that dirt alone became the cause of overheating in furnaces. The thing is dirt can affect the three major components of the furnace and cleaning is the most effective method in the entirety of the concept of maintenance.

Learn how to clean all three components: filter system, motor, and the blower.

There’s a need to replace or clean the furnace filter right before the heating season starts. The same thing must be done once a month during those times when the furnace is regularly used. In order to check the filter, you need to take it out first and then hold it up to the light. If you see that it is clogged, you will have to replace it with a new filter, but make sure it is of the same type and size. Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter if the filter has been used for less than a month or several months; as long as it is already clogged, you need to replace it.

Replacing the Filter

1. Find the metal panel located at the front side of your furnace. It should be below the return air duct or between the duct and blower system. There is usually a label “filter” or there’s lid or front of a box-like projection on the furnace case.

2. Slip the panel off the holding hooks or unscrew, depending on what type of locking mechanism your system has. There are even some heating systems where the filters are exposed and just have to slip it up and out of the thing that holds it in place.

3. Depending on the type and condition, inspect and then replace or clean the filter. Do not forget to clean the blower assembly, too, including the pulleys and belts to the blower and the case or housing of the motor. You need to clean the blower if your furnace comes with a squirrel-cage type of fan. The openings in this kind of blower have the tendency to collect dirt. To clean the blower, you need to remove the panel that covers the filter. As soon as you get access inside the blower, start getting rid of any presence of foreign material like dirt and dust.

Now if you’re really not comfortable with any of those tasks mentioned above, you might as well decide to hire professional heating and air conditioning service for your peace of mind.