How to Make Your Furnace Last Longer
There’s no denying the fact that a furnace is a very large investment for the average homeowner. While furnaces are estimated to last between 15 and 20 years, many homeowners have had furnaces that last much longer. By following the maintenance practices that we’re going to go over below, you can help to extend the life of your furnace well beyond the manufacturer’s estimated lifespan.
Regular Filter Changes
Probably the most important factor to extend the lifespan of your furnace is to undergo regular filter changes. The air filter within your system should be changed, at the very minimum, every three months. It’s a good rule of thumb to check the state of your filter every couple of weeks. Whenever you can no longer see through the filter, it’s time to replace it with a new one. By constantly replacing the filter whenever it gets dirty, you can help to ensure that your furnace isn’t overworking to try to force air through a clogged filter.
Annual Tune-Ups
The next essential practice to extend the useful life of your furnace is to get regular annual tune-ups from a professional. One of our service technicians will clean your furnace, inspect all of its components, and fix any problems to ensure that it’s working efficiently. The longest living furnaces are those that have worked efficiently throughout the majority of their lifespan. Furnaces that are constantly overworked reach the end of their lifespan sooner.
Fix Problems in a Timely Fashion
Whether you notice a change in your furnace’s ability to heat your home or experience weird noises, it’s important to get the problem checked out in a timely fashion. You never want to let issues go because they’ll likely turn into bigger problems down the road. Instead of just replacing a fan belt, you may end up replacing a blower motor as well if you let it go too long. When you’re timely with your furnace repairs, the internal components are likely to last much longer than if you let repairs go.
Install a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are a new weapon that can help homeowners save a bundle on their energy expenses as well as extend the lifespan of their furnaces. These thermostats will learn your desired heating habits and make recommendations on how to efficiently heat your residence. This will likely include turning your heat down in the late evenings and when you’re not at home. When your furnace is working efficiently, it’s going to last much longer than if it’s constantly being overworked.
Create an Ideal Home Environment
It’s crucial to realize that there are many factors in your house that can determine how well your furnace works. Insulation is probably the biggest factor. When you have adequate insulation in your home that’s able to create a barrier to block the cold air, your heating system can work efficiently. However, if your property lacks adequate insulation and has many different air drafts going through it, it’s going to cause your furnace to constantly be running to heat your home. The more your furnace has to run on a consistent basis, the shorter its lifespan is going to be.
Get Your Ductwork Sealed
After the warm air leaves your furnace, it enters into the ductwork that runs throughout your house. As it travels through your ductwork, any leaks or gaps can cause the warm air to seep out. This means that not all of the warm air created by your furnace will make it to the rooms of your home to warm up your family. In fact, most properties end up losing 30% of the heat that their furnaces produce due to gaps in their ductwork.
The metal that your ducting is created out of will expand and contract with different temperatures. This can cause some of the joints to pull apart over time, leading to unwanted air gaps and leaks. Air duct sealing is a way to seal any gaps and leaks in your ductwork to help prevent warm air loss when running your furnace. It’s recommended that you get your ductwork sealed every 10 years.
Professional Furnace Services
Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC provides professional furnace services for the entire De Pere, WI, region. We’re also here for all of your heating and cooling installation, maintenance, and repair needs. Call us today to schedule your next appointment.
