How to Help Furnace Efficiency

When was the last time you sat down with your furnace manual? Have you ever had deep discussions with your spouse or co-workers about the inner workings of the magical box in the basement or attic that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer? If you’re like most people, you leave it alone, it does its job and you basically forget it until there’s a glitch in the system and it fails to perform up to standard.

But if you pay attention and give your home comfort system a little TLC, it can reward you with years of efficient, money-saving comfort. Here are a few easy things you can do to keep it all running smoothly, and you don’t have to be a rocket scientist, either.

1. Clean the furnace filters or put in new ones. Dirty filters cause the equipment to work harder and that leads to early equipment failure and increased energy costs.

2. Remove clutter from around the furnace or air handler. Besides being a fire hazard, all that stuff blocks the air supply and reduces efficiency.

3. Check out the chimney or flue pipe to see if it is properly installed and working.

4. Listen for unusual sounds emanating from the furnace. The easiest way is to set the thermostat on heat and increase the temperature. Then, shut off the TV, send the kids out to play and listen. If you suspect something doesn’t sound just right, contact us.

5. Clean return air duct grills. Simply vacuum the accumulated dust away so air can flow unobstructed.

6. Seal air ducts. Air leaks in duct work can reduce system efficiency by as much as 20 percent. And if you find a leak, call us for a Home Health^TM Report Card evaluation.

Posted: 10/6/2008 5:02:07 AM by Sam