Getting the most our of your furnace

December 24, 2023

If you’ve recently made the decision to invest in a brand-new furnace for your home, you’re going to want to make sure you get the best results possible from the appliance. When maintained and taken care of properly, a new furnace can not only keep your home warm and cozy all winter long, but it can also help save you money. Furnaces that are kept in the best possible working shape will be more efficient with their energy usage and will also be less likely to require frequent and costly repairs. For these reasons and more, you would be wise to consider some of these tips for getting the best results out of your new furnace.

1. GET REGULAR TUNE-UPS

One of the most important parts of furnace care is having it checked by professionals on a regular basis. It’s important to remember that heating systems have multiple components that work quite hard and develop wear and tear over time. Because of this, it’s recommended that they receive routine tune-ups at least once a year to ensure that the unit continues running smoothly and efficiently. During these regular check-ups, your furnace experts can determine whether or not the furnace has any issues and whether or not it’s at risk for a breakdown. By getting ahead of any potential problems, you can save yourself quite a bit of money in the long run. Whenever you need it, we have a team of experts that offer professional tune-up and maintenance services in the Alberta area.

2. KEEP THE FILTER CLEAN

The air filter in your furnace plays a very important role, as it prevents dust and other types of debris from clogging up the system and causing problems. Over time though, if not cleaned or replaced, the filter is likely to become clogged up itself and unable to perform its job. This can lead to the furnace running less efficiently and being more prone to having problems. There are several factors that determine how quickly your furnace’s air filter might become clogged, such as whether or not you have pets and how clean you typically keep your home. As a basic rule of thumb, though, it’s a good idea to check on the status of your filter on a monthly basis.

3. KEEP THE FURNACE AREA CLEAR

There’s a good chance that the furnace in your home is probably located down in your basement, which can oftentimes be a place that people use for extra storage. This is completely fine, but it’s also a good idea to keep the direct area within a few feet of the furnace as empty as possible. Not only does this decrease the risk of a fire starting, but it also allows the air around the furnace to circulate more freely, which in turn allows the heating system to operate at a more efficient level.

4. BE SMART WITH THE THERMOSTAT

Naturally, most people want their homes to remain as warm as possible during the winter months. After all, keeping the home warm is the primary job of the furnace. However, by making a point to lower the thermostat at certain times, you can take some of that stress off of your heating system. The general recommendation is that you manually lower the thermostat’s temperature by anywhere from 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit when you go to bed. Over the course of a whole year, this will not only save you significant money on your energy bills but will also result in a bit less wear and tear on your furnace.

5. CONSIDER USING A HUMIDIFIER

Many people don’t realize that when the air in your home gets dry, especially during the cold winter months, it can actually cause it to feel colder in your home than it truly is. So, a lot of the time, it’s really the climate not being humid enough that causes you to crank up the thermostat and require more effort from your furnace. If you make the choice to invest in a humidifier, it will spread moisture into the air throughout your household. Air with a higher humidity percentage is able to transfer heat around more easily, keeping you warmer. By using a humidifier to moisten the air in your home, you can safely lower the thermostat without really feeling like it’s actually any colder. This way, your furnace won’t have to work as hard, which will lead to it running better and more efficiently.

6. CLEAN OUT YOUR VENTS

Your home is likely to have several air vents spread out in different places. To make sure your furnace isn’t working harder than it needs to, make an effort to inspect each vent one at a time and make sure that none of them are dirty or obstructed. To really be thorough, take the time to remove the vent covers and use a vacuum cleaner extension to clean within them.

7. CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE FURNACE

You’re probably noticing a theme here — the cleaner that your home and its appliances are, the more effectively and efficiently everything is going to run. This rule of thumb applies to your actual furnace as well. Once a month or so, we recommend removing the access panels from your furnace, breaking out that vacuum extension once again, and cleaning out all of the dust and debris that has accumulated inside the furnace.

8. KEEP YOUR HOME AIRTIGHT

A big part of keeping your furnace at its best and not overworking it is keeping as much heat trapped inside your home as possible. Unfortunately, if any of your doors, windows, or other openings have air leaks, it can become a major obstacle to getting the best results from your furnace. We recommend systematically checking every potential source of heat escaping your home that you can think of and confirming that there aren’t any leaks. If you find any spots that aren’t completely airtight, it’s important that you seal them, either yourself or with the help of professionals. The fewer leaks your home has, the healthier your furnace will be, and the more money you will save on energy bills.

A brand-new furnace can be an excellent and worthwhile investment for your home, but only if you’re willing to give it the proper care that it deserves. At Alberta Mountain Air Heating and Air Conditioning, we understand that taking care of your heating and air conditioning systems can be challenging and complicated, which is why our team of professionals is always available to assist. We have been offering quality heating repair and maintenance as well as cooling repair and installation to the greater Alberta area for over 15 years. We offer both residential and commercial services in this area, and we take pride in consistently offering professional and affordable care to our customers.

If you need more information or assistance with getting the most out of your new furnace or any other kind of heating or cooling job, contact Alberta Mountain Air Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with one of our technicians.