Your gas furnace helps remove winter’s chill to keep your home warm and inviting, but it needs to work properly to protect your family’s health, comfort, and safety.
While gas furnaces can be more efficient than an electric furnace at heating your home, there are inherent dangers involved with any gas appliance. There are dangers from carbon monoxide if they aren’t vented properly, explosions if there’s a gas buildup and dangers of smoke and fire damage if anything flammable is stored too close to the furnace.
To ensure your furnace works safely and effectively each season, it needs proper maintenance. Some of these tasks you can do yourself, but there are several gas furnace maintenance chores that are best left to the professionals.
Take care of these maintenance steps before turning on your gas furnace for the first time to prevent damage from smoke and fire in Springfield Missouri.
Practice Safety at All Times
Safety should be your top priority for gas furnace maintenance. Before getting started, shut off the gas and electricity to the furnace to prevent any injuries. The gas line is typically connected to the gas furnace via a black pipe. You should see a shut off valve that can be used to stop the flow of gas.
To shut off power to the furnace, look for the switch on the side. If you cannot find this switch, use your breaker or fuse box to shut off the electricity running to the furnace.
Clean the Interior of the Furnace
Open the furnace door, and you are going to likely find a lot of soot and debris that needs to be cleaned. Use a small soft brush to remove dust and debris from the cracks and crevices of the furnace door.
Using a vacuum, clean the base of the furnace, the inner components, and the gas burners. It is best to use a hose vacuum with a snorkel attachment to get into all the tight areas.
Inspect the Thermostat Wires
You need to check the thermostat wires for any signs of damage. Make sure each wire has no breaks and that they are all tightly connected. Make adjustments if necessary.
Replace the Air Filter
Replacing the air filter is critical for the function of your furnace. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions to determine how often you should change the filter. For some gas furnaces, this can mean changing the filter as often as once a month.
Clean the Blower
Right behind the air filter, you will find the blower. The furnace blower can accumulate dust and debris that can pass through the air filter.
To clean the blower, you are going to need to first remove it. To remove it from the furnace, you only need to remove a few screws.
Use a small brush to clean the fan blades of dust and debris. Use a damp soft cloth to clean the blower assembly. Once you have cleaned the blower assembly, use a vacuum to clean up any mess.
Inspect the Drive Belt
Over time, the drive belt can become loose or frayed. Inspect the belt for any signs of damage, and make sure it is not too tight and not too loose. If the belt is overly loose or damaged, replace it right away.
Check and Clean the Flame Sensor
Residue can build up on the flame sensor, causing its function to degrade. Remove the sensor from its attachment and use a fine grade emery cloth to remove any dirt and debris.
Clean the Ducts
With use, the ducts can begin to accumulate dust and debris. Cleaning the furnace ducts will keep the unit working efficiently. While you can attempt this cleaning chore, it is one that is best left to the professionals because they have the tools and equipment to clean the ducts thoroughly.
Carrying out the above will keep your furnace working safely and efficiently. These maintenance tasks are essential for keeping your family safe. According to the National Fire Protection Association, one in six home fires starts with a furnace.
Furnace maintenance not only helps prevent fires but also keeps your furnace working more efficiently. Efficient systems are going to save you money on heating costs. When furnaces are dirty, they cannot operate at their prime. You are more likely to experience expensive breakdowns without maintenance.
Ideally, you should carry out the gas furnace maintenance steps at least once a year. It’s best to take care of these chores in the fall, before you need to turn on your furnace for the cold season. But better late than never.
Get Professional Help
If you do ever have smoke and fire damage due to a faulty furnace and need help with fire damage restoration, call the professionals at PuroClean Certified Restoration. We’ll make sure the job is done right.