You need to practice proper furnace maintenance procedures if you want to keep it performing properly. Most people will call certified service techs to their home before the fall and winter season begins. This is so they know that their furnace is being checked out by qualified workers. However there are very simple furnace maintenance tips that can help you prevent many problems. This means that with a little effort you could end up saving some big bucks.

Never forget that you are dealing with a furnace that could pose some danger, so it is important to always exercise caution. If you have a gas furnace in your home you must make sure that the gas supply and the power are all shut off before you begin any type of furnace maintenance checks.

*A furnace can only be tested while it is operating and this should only be done by certified HVAC service personnel.

Furnace Maintenance Tips

* Replace the air filter regularly. You will need to check your filters once a month for any tears or problems. These are easy to replace, and most of them can be found at home improvement stores or online. Keep a supply of these items on hand just in case they are needed.

* There are drain traps and hoses on HE (high efficiency) furnaces. This is the 1st thing that most techs will check if they are sent to your home for a “lack of heating” call. A blockage in the drainage system of furnaces is the most common reason for the unit’s failure to heat. You can remove and clean the drain trap and “air blow” the hoses. You might want to pour a small amount of ordinary laundry bleach into the drainage lines to eliminate any bacteria or mold.

* Check your wiring and connections to make sure that nothing is loose or cracked.

* The connections for the factory plug harness should be plugged together tightly.

* The inside burner and the compartments of the blower should be vacuumed regularly. This helps avoid the problem of debris and dust build up.

* If you have a furnace blower motor that needs to be oiled you should let a technician handle this furnace maintenance task, because it usually involves removing all of the blower assembly.

* You can take a few minutes and visually inspect the area where the furnace pipes extend outside of your home. Make sure that there are no bushes or branches covering these pipes.

* Most of these exhaust pipes and air intake pipes are easy to remove and then you can inspect them. Make sure that you clean out any leaves, dust and debris and then replace the pipes.

If you follow these simple furnace maintenance tips you can save money and lower your utility bills. It also means that you may not have to call those HVAC techs out to your home for “no heat” emergencies that could have easily been avoided.