Maintaining your furnace is a must for any household. It’s necessary to keep your HVAC system working efficiently and to save you money. In this article, we’re going to run through several aspects of your furnace that need more regular attention. The last thing you want is for winter to roll around and the one source of continuous heat to be out of commission. This can have dangerous effects on your home and family. Let’s get started on tips from our furnace maintenance and cleaning experts in Waukesha..

Replace Furnace Filter

Certain aspects of your furnace will need to be maintained a little more regularly than others, like the filter for example. Furnace filters are the most basic aspect of furnace maintenance. Here’s when you should replace furnace filters based on filter type:

• If your furnace uses a HEPA or electrostatic filter, then you need to change the filter every 2 to 5 months.
• Paper or fiberglass filters need to be replaced every month or every 2 months, especially during the heating season.
• If your home is filled with smokers, pets, or both, replace the filter even more frequently as these filters will have trapped significantly more dirt, dust, and other airborne contaminants.

Step-by-Step Guide To Basic Furnace Maintenance

Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to perform other furnace maintenance. Thankfully, these aren’t super complex machines to clean. A vacuum cleaner will be your best friend in this process, as well as some basic tools. Before you start, make sure that the electrical power and fuel supply to the furnace are turned off.

Step 1: Clean the Combustion Chamber

Once you’ve cut off all power sources to the furnace, it’s time to attack the combustion chamber. First, remove the door that separates you from the combustion chamber and just take your vacuum to this space, removing any dirt, debris, etc. Also, while you’re there, check for any holes in the chamber which may have been the cause of corrosion. If you find any, cover them with aluminum foil tape.

Step 2: Clean the Blower Compartment

The blower compartment will be separated by a door which you’ll lift and shove your vacuum into. Similar to step one, you’re just collecting dirt, debris, etc., while also checking for holes. A significant amount of debris here could also indicate that your filter needs to be changed.

Step 3: Oil Up the Motor Bearings

Older furnaces often have two motor bearings. They also have two blower shaft bearings. Annually you should be oiling these bearings up. First, use a clean cloth and wipe the caps over these bearings. Then remove the caps, apply a few drops of lightweight machine oil, and restore the caps. Our furnace maintenance experts in Waukesha recommend that you don’t over-lubricate the bearings as this can cause them not to function properly down the line.

Conclusion

These basic furnace maintenance tips aren’t to say you’ll never face the need for furnace repairs or replacement. Sometimes units just give up, and no amount of cleaning is going to fix them. That’s when you call in our Waukesha area furnace inspection contractors. At On Time Heating and Cooling, in Waukesha, our furnace maintenance, cleaning, and repair company is well-versed in how to clean, maintain, repair and replace furnaces!

So if you’re living in southeastern Wisconsin and need professional assistance, give our furnace maintenance company in Waukesha a call or use our online self-scheduling feature today!