A Guide to Furnace Maintenance

Canadian winters are bitterly cold and with freezing temperatures that average below zero degrees Celsius, you want your furnace to be reliable and functioning at its peak performance in order to keep your family warm.  

Simple maintenance on your furnace is your best line of defence at preventing the hassles of breakdowns. Here at Energy Clean we have trusted technicians that perform maintenance checks on furnaces before the winter months. However, there are also some maintenance steps you can take yourself that will successfully prepare you for the winter season.  

The following blog post will answer some frequently asked questions about furnace maintenance to successfully prepare your furnace for the winter season. 

1. How often should I service my furnace?  

Furnaces that receive annual checkups and cleaning will save homeowners money and extend the lifespan of the furnace. Many manufacturers recommend yearly inspections and Maintenance by experienced technicians.  

Brand new furnaces may be able to receive maintenance every other year, however, if your furnace is over 10 years old, it’s best to have them serviced annually.  

2. What are the benefits of annual maintenance?  

The vast majority of no-heat calls in the winter are related to a lack of maintenance. Minor problems caused by lack of furnace maintenance can become quite expensive, especially if they go unnoticed for a long period of time.  

Lower Energy Costs – A furnace that uses less energy saves you money on your energy bills.  

Longer Lifespan – Annual furnace maintenance can extend the lifespan of your furnace.  

Fewer Repairs – Regular maintenance ensures that small problems with your furnace will not go unnoticed and neglected.  

Improved Indoor Air Quality – Cleaning your HVAC unit will ensure that it will be clean. Since furnaces can get dirty quite quickly, this debris can get reintroduced into your house and lower the air quality of your home.  

3. Why is it important to maintain the furnace filter 

While most air filters should be changed every 90 days, it would be ideal to conduct a visual inspection once a month. This way you can monitor the cleanliness level of your furnace’s air filter and change it as needed.  

Having a clean air filter is essential in protecting your equipment investment. When the air filter in your furnace is dirty, it collects debris and dust particles that clog the filter. This means that air will slow down as it cannot pass through the filter and the cabinet will overheat. This kind of overheating and lack of airflow puts stress on the components of your furnace and is the main contributor to premature breakdowns.  

Here are reasons to change your furnace air filter: 

Improve indoor air quality – Air filters collect debris and dust particles that exist within your home. If you do not regularly change the filters clogged filters may recirculate dirty particles back into your home and/or lack the capacity to pick up additional debris present within the house; reducing the overall air quality of your home. 

Prevent overheating or short cycling – when the air filter is dirty it causes the airflow to slow and become trapped within the cabinet. The cabinet will overheat and experience short heating cycles which puts stress on the components of your furnace which can lead to breakdowns that are a hassle to fix.   

Temperature regulation – when airflow slows due to a dirty filter, it impacts the overall temperature regulation of your home. Clean filters ensure that your furnace can successfully distribute the heat across all levels of your home.  

Reduce energy bills – When your filter is clean the system does not have to work so hard to maintain an equal distribution of heat across the home, which will save you money on your energy bill.  

Extend your furnace life – Dirty filters put stress on the furnace so ensuring good filter health protects your overall equipment investment. 

Here at Energy Clean we have well-trained and trusted HVAC technicians that have the knowledge to spot potential problems before they occur. With our help you can keep your furnace functioning at its peak performance. For further assistance, contact us for more information or priced quotes!