The last thing you want to deal with is a poorly working or totally broken furnace immediately after the winter season sets in. You can have a terrible experience with extreme cold in your house, and you might really struggle to bring back the much-desired warmth and coziness to your house due to the high demand for HVAC repairs around this period. The best way to reduce the chances of such an experience from occurring is by adopting effective furnace maintenance practices and tips that enhance the performance and longevity of your furnace.
At Canadian Touch, the top HVAC service provider in Toronto, our team of expert HVAC technicians with decades of experience under their belt gathered the most effective practices and tips known to keep your furnace working better for longer and shared them with you to ensure you get maximum comfort and efficiency during the chilling cold season. And most importantly, they made them easy to implement so that you don’t have a hard time applying them to your HVAC system.
The Importance of Regular Maintenance
If you love the convenience of a perfectly working HVAC system and would like to keep enjoying that benefit, then you should seriously consider maintaining your furnace frequently. When you get a new system installed in your house, you may not need to do much to it for it to operate smoothly since everything is brand new, but with time, it may need inspection and a few touch-ups to remove and replace things that may hinder it from functioning to the best of its abilities.
Dirt and debris might enter your furnace, while some parts may begin experiencing wear and tear, which may interfere with heat distribution in your house and increase your energy bills. Regular furnace maintenance helps you identify and address these problems before they become a real threat. If you do maintenance before winter begins, you become confident that your system is fit enough to see you through the cold season without any problems.
Essential Furnace Maintenance Tips
Plan for Yearly Inspections: The first place to begin your maintenance is to plan to have yearly checkups from a certified and experienced HVAC expert. The annual inspections will help ensure that every single aspect of your HVAC system is working properly while you do the regular general inspection by yourself. Having an expert’s eye on your system once in a while will help refine your general inspection efforts and confirm that the very technical aspects that require expertise are well handled as well.
Canadian Touch offers annual inspections that cover all the essential aspects, including safety controls, fans, ignition systems, thermostats, air filters, and motors. We not only do a comprehensive checkup on your system but also make sure the general maintenance practices you work with are accurately implemented for the best experience.
Replace Your Air Filter Regularly: Clean air filters allow smooth airflow in and out of your system, which contributes to good air quality. The more you use your air filter, the more dirt accumulates in it. With time, the dirt begins affecting the airflow in your system and eventually leads to a poorly working furnace that can severely damage your entire system if the dirt situation isn’t dealt with. The best way to ensure this is not a problem for you is by replacing your air filter after using it for about one to three months. The actual period it will take before you make a replacement will depend on how often you use your HVAC system and the type of furnace you work with.
Clear Any Vent Blockages: For vents to work effectively, they must be strategically placed in areas with no obstructions. We often unknowingly create obstructions for the vents and air returns with our furniture, curtains, and rugs. The obstructions make it hard for air to flow freely as it should to optimize the heating process in your system and maintain a warm temperature in your house. Always check to make sure you or your family members haven’t blocked the vents and air returns.
Check and Maintain Your Thermostat: Your thermostat may sometimes give inaccurate readings. So, it’s always important to keep it in check and ensure it’s providing the right information. To make your work easier, you can even replace your system’s thermostat with a smart or programmable thermostat. The two alternatives provide a more enjoyable experience and require less maintenance. They are very energy efficient and will also improve your system’s heating schedule.
Seal Leaks and Maintain: When there are leaks in your house, your furnace will have to work harder to keep your home warm, as air will keep escaping through those leaks. In turn, your energy bill will increase, and your HVAC system’s shelf life will reduce. That’s why you should check for any leaks around your doors, ductwork, and windows and seal them all before they wreak havoc. You should also make an effort of insulating your walls and the attic as these can provide an outlet for warm air too.
The tips we mentioned here significantly improve how your furnace works and in turn, optimize the whole HVAC system’s operation. They will also increase your furnace’s durability and allow it to serve for a much longer period. Plus, they will bring down your utility bills, which will help you enjoy a warm house with your family without straining your pocket. And you won’t have to worry about any possible breakdowns during the winter season.
Canadian Touch provides you with the best furnace maintenance services that Toronto has to offer. We don’t just service your furnace, we fully optimize its capabilities and help you have the best experience with it while minimizing the operating costs. We are also available even on weekends and holidays and we don’t charge you extra for that. Call us today to help you make sure you are well equpped to fight the cold.
