The furnace of your home provides you with heat and comfort. However, without proper maintenance, your heating system could end up failing completely. Below are some of the maintenance tasks that should be completed if you want to keep your furnace working properly for the long term.

Changing Air Filters

One of both the easiest and most important furnace maintenance tasks you should complete is changing the air filters on a regular schedule. Dirty air filters are a bigger threat to your system than you may know. They can restrict airflow through the system, can cause it to work far more inefficiently, and can eventually lead to a complete breakdown of the heater. Air filters will need to be swapped out every one to three months. The length they last depends on the air filter. Pleated air filters, for example, can last up to 90 days.

Cleaning Components

Part of this maintenance should include the cleaning of certain components of your furnace. Things that should be cleaned by a professional include:

• Blower assembly
• Burners
• Combustion chamber
• Flame sensor
• Flue pipe
• Heat exchanger

While not all of these components may need to be cleaned on the same schedule, they should all be inspected regularly to determine that they do need cleaning. Doing so will ensure that your system runs much more efficiently than it would have otherwise. Your furnace will operate more safely and be less prone to breakdowns.

Calibrating the Thermostat

One of the most important components of any heating system is the thermostat. If it’s not operating properly, it could mean your heater does not switch on and off as needed. It may cause the whole system to run inefficiently or even break down. This is because the thermostat helps determine what the actual temperature in the house is and tells the furnace to operate in accordance with your needs as you have programmed it. Calibrating your thermostat is very important and helps produce more accurate temperature ratings. The entire system will run much more efficiently as a result when you have a trained technician calibrate your thermostat.

Professional Maintenance Services

While there are many maintenance tasks a homeowner can perform on their own, it is still likely preferable to have an HVAC professional service your system on a routine basis. No matter how much you think you know about your system, you still don’t know as much as a professional. They will be able to inspect, clean, and lubricate the proper components better than you would. They will also be able to spot other issues while inspecting the unit.

If you live in Tualatin, OR, and need your furnace repaired, call Sky Heating, AC, Plumbing & Electrical for the job.