Simple Ways to Avoid Calling for Furnace Repair This Winter
Winter has arrived and right now you're counting on your furnace more than ever. One of the easiest ways to keep your furnace running efficiently is to maintain appointments for annual maintenance and tune-ups. There are also a few easy things you can check on yourself that might 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 sounds like this would save on energy costs. However, closing off vents actually puts an unnecessary strain on your system that may lead to concerns in the future. Interior walls are not insulated and the temperature in the room then goes to other rooms in your house, leaving an imbalance and causing your system to run less efficiently.
- Check Your Thermostat - Sometimes when your furnace isn't running as it should be, the problem is very obvious - drained batteries in your thermostat. Typically, your thermostat will provide a warning about a month before the battery stops working, but if you missed it, that may be the cause of your heating problems.
Are your vents blowing chilledair instead of heated? There may be a simple explanation for it. Check and ensure 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 realize that your system is consistently blowing air, you may have your fan set to "on" rather than "auto". The "on" switch always 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 stops working. 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 try to extend the life of your heating system and avoid furnace repair.
Along with these easy 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 724-425-5852.