Depending on the part of the world where you live, the heating season can be the hardest part of the year for so many reasons. It’s cold, the weather is not nice, the bills go up, and we are in constant search for warmth. For many of us, this warmth comes from our furnaces. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the big ones that provide heat to our offices, and apartments, or those smaller ones that are meant to provide heat for a single household. Either way, heat is welcomed.
When you require a furnace you want it at full power operating during the cold months. To ensure that it is always operating at its full capacity you need to take good care of it. If you do not know how to do this, or you simply never thought about it, we’re here to help. It is important to take care of its lifespan as they do not come cheap. In this article, we are going to present to you some of the essential DIY repair and maintenance tips for furnaces. So, sit tight, and learn a few valuable lessons.
Pay Attention to Filter
While a furnace is all about the heat, you are required to know that there’s a small part tied to the airflow. So the next time you want to take good care of your heating system, focus first on the filter. It plays a great role. When your furnace is at full power and works for days and weeks at times the filter can get quite dirty. Clogging is possible too. So, what happens? Well, the airflow slows and in no time you’ll receive weaker heat results and the quality of air will go down rather fast. So, if you feel that something is off with your heater it is necessary to slow down and think, and the idea of a dirty filter will pop out. What you should know is that during the eating season, it needs to be inspected monthly. Each manufacturer has a recommendation on how often it needs to be done based on the specification of their device.
Check the Flames
Each furnace comes with burners that produce flames and generate heat. The gas is ignited in the burners and then is pushed by the air towards the heat exchanger. This is how the heating process is started. If a leak exists or some debris has penetrated inside you must check the flames. Burner flames have a recognizable color when they are working well. When you want to inspect these flames you are required to ensure that the heater is off. When this is done, you can open the cool chamber doors. After that start the ignition process. When flames appear they need to be blue and evenly dispersed. If you notice that they are yellowish that is a clear show-off of a dirty burner. Also, a danger exists that it could be showing carbon monoxide leakage. If you believe that this is a possibility you need professional help, and quality parts that can be found at https://www.furnacepartsource.com/.
Clean the Burners
This is the easy part. You wouldn’t believe it but it can be done with a vacuum cleaner. Yes, you would need a powerful one, but even the lighter versions can get the job done. The combustion chamber is not impenetrable. It can get in through various forms of dirt and debris and some of it could pose a potential fire hazard. This procedure, while simple, should be only done when the heater is turned off and fully cold.
Blower Cleaning
When you work with a furnace for a long time, you learn the essential parts of it and how to clean them. One of the most important ingredients of every device of this kind is the blower. We are talking about the part that makes the air move through the system and enables the heating process to happen. It is vital for the clean operation of this device for it to be clean at all times. The bowler is an additional part that can be taken from the heating system itself. The principle of cleaning it is the same as with the burners. Use a vacuum cleaner and some assistance from a simple brush.
Flame Sensors Maintenance
The flame sensor is one of the most important parts of each furnace. It is the part that signals when and if the flame in the furnace is ignited. We are talking about a simple metal rod, which is rather thin. You can easily remove it but it needs to be cleaned with care. Use a soft fabric and clean its surface. You don’t have to use any chemicals or even water to do it. When cleaned, gently put it back.
Seek Corrosion Signs
Your furnace has a lifespan. It will age, and in most cases, it will not be gentle. This is why you must do furnace checkups and signs of corrosion. This is a maintenance procedure that needs to be done frequently. While corrosion will not appear in the first few years with new furnaces, with age all of them will start feeling the tooth of time.
Check The Pipes
No fire can’t be ignited without oxygen. Furnaces are equipped with both intake and exhaust pipes. Both of them can get clogged with time. Intake pipes ensure that there is enough oxygen in the ignition chamber. Exhaust pipes ensure that all the bad gasses are taken out of your home. You get the importance of both for proper operation of the furnace and your safety. Do these check ups regularly.
Bottom Line
Furnaces are not hard to understand. With these few tips on how to do maintenance and regular checkups, you should be able to ensure the vital life and longevity of your furnace. At times it can be your best friend. But, if left unintended they will turn into a nightmare. Now that you know how to approach one, you don’t have any excuses not to keep your furnace in top condition.
