Four Things to Remember about a Fall Furnace Tune Up

Now that the fall is approaching, you may be thinking about your upcoming heating costs. If you are, a good place to start is to perform a fall furnace tune up. Tuning up your furnace is very important to the not only your bottom line, but also to your health. Keeping your furnace in optimum condition will keep your indoor air quality at a comfortable and healthy level. There are four things you should remember when you are performing your tune up.

Not all furnaces are alike.

There are many manufacturers that produce furnaces and each manufacturer have parts for their furnaces that are uniquely theirs. They have their own plans of how their furnace is to be maintained. Parts of one brand of furnace may be located in a different area than on another brand of furnace. You should take time to read the manufacturer required maintenance schedule that is recommended in the product manuals. The manuals will show you how to perform the cleaning, which parts should be moved and how to move them, and where to locate and how to replace parts that can be replaced by you. 

Do not forget the filters.

When you are inspecting your furnaces, do not forget to check the filter. The filter can get clogged and that can decrease your indoor air quality. Dust and dirt can be released into the air and it can be a serious problem for people with breathing conditions such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. It could also trigger allergy attacks to those who are sensitive to dust, pollen, and pet dander that could be circulating thorough your home. A dirty filter can also make your furnace work harder than it needs to, causing your fuel costs to rise. To lower fuel costs and see real energy savings, make sure you keep to a regular schedule of filter changes for your furnace.

Do not forget your humidifier.

If you have a humidifier in your home, you should also inspect it and change or clean the filter. The humidifier is important to the indoor air quality and improving home comfort. If the humidifier is not working properly, it could release too much moisture in the air that can cause damage to your home such as mold and mildew which could lead to lung infections and fungal respiratory problems. It could release too little moisture, which could also cause damage to your home and affect your health, especially if you have breathing difficulties. You should regularly clean or change the filter to make sure that it remains in good condition and provide years of service. 

Clean and inspect your ductwork.

The ductwork is part of your HVAC system and should be maintained as well. Duct cleaning will make sure that the heat that is produced by your heater is allowed to flow freely throughout your home to maintain home comfort. Keeping your ventilation and ductwork clean will also keep your furnace from overworking and using extra energy. It is important that you check to make sure that you do not have any leaks around the seams and that there is no accumulating moisture or cracks. You can also have a contractor to inspect and clean your ductwork for you.