Simple Ways to Avoid Calling for Furnace Repair This Winter
Winter has showed up and right now you're relying on your furnace more than ever. One of the best ways to keep your furnace running smoothly is to stay up on annual maintenance and tune-ups. There are also some simple things you can check on yourself that could keep you from being left in the cold and in need of an emergency furnace repair.
- Keep Air Vents Open - There's some misinformation out there about closing off vents in vacant rooms. In theory, it appears as though would save on energy expenses. However, closing off vents actually puts an unnecessary strain on your system that can lead to problems in the future. Interior walls are not insulated and the temperature in the room leaks to other rooms in your house, leaving an imbalance and causing your system to work less efficiently.
- Check Your Thermostat - Sometimes when your furnace isn't operating correctly, the problem is very simple - drained batteries in your thermostat. Usually, your thermostat will offer a warning approximately a month before the battery runs out, but if you missed it, that could be the cause of your heating issues.
Are your vents blowing coolair instead of warm? There may be a simple explanation for it. Check and be sure your thermostat is set to "heat" instead of "cool". You never know who has been playing around with the thermostat.
Your thermostat has a fan setting. If you see that your system is consistently blowing air, you could have your fan set to "on" versus "auto". The "on" switch constantly keeps your fan blowing, regardless if your furnace is currently heating. The "auto" switch only keeps the blower running when the furnace is heating your home. Keep in mind, if you keep your switch set to "on" you'll have to exchange your filters more often. This then leads to...
- Change Your Air Filter – A gross filter is the most common reason a heating system breaks down. Dirt and debris keep air from passing around your system and that could possibly cause your furnace to overheat. Swapping your furnace filter is the easiest way to help possibly extend the lifetime of your heating system and avoid furnace repair.
Along with these three tips, the best advice is to keep up with annual, scheduled furnace maintenance. If you haven't scheduled your annual furnace service yet, you can easily schedule an appointment by giving us a call at 309-517-7511.