100 likes | 223 Views
Without routine maintenance and tune-ups a furnace can stop running at its peak optimal levels, leading to excessive energy waste that could be avoided and you end up paying extra costs for in your energy bills- not to mention wasteful! Our expert Denver HVAC technicians have compiled an in-depth checklist to help ensure you're doing all you can to keep your furnace working at its best inbetween service calls.
E N D
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 Page 1 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 1. Change Your Furnace Air Filter The purpose of your furnace’s air filter is to prevent debris from entering the system. When the filter becomes dirty, there are several negative effects. The most immediate repercussion of a clogged filter is reduced airflow into the furnace. This makes the furnace motor struggle harder to perform effectively and it will use more energy. In addition, a clogged filter becomes less adept at trapping debris. Dust will collect on the furnace’s inner parts, and this can cause a furnace breakdown, eventually. Page 2 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 Use the best filter for your system and inspect it monthly throughout the heating season. Homeowners who live in dusty areas often find they need to change filters every month, but your situation may be different. For the best dust control, which also effects indoor air quality, choose pleated filters, which tend to be better overall than flat fiberglass mesh filters. Look also at the MERV rating, if it is available on the filter. This indicates the ability of the filter to trap particles. A high rating means the filter traps finer particles than a lower-rated filter. However, ask your technician which filter is best for your furnace. High-rated filters may also reduce airflow too much in some systems. Page 3 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 2. Set Furnace Thermostat Wisely You can save a lot of energy by simply turning your thermostat lower in winter when you do not need as much heat in the home. Examples include when you are away at work, at night when you are cozy in bed, when you have a fire going in the fireplace or when you are away for the holidays. Most people can also get by with setting the temperature lower when they are at home. Wearing extra-warm clothing, opening the drapes in the afternoon to let sunlight warm the home and activities such as running a few loads of laundry through the dryer, running your dishwasher and baking can keep you feeling warmer. Page 4 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat for even more energy efficiency. You can set these to adjust the temperature for different times of the day, different days of the week or for when you are on vacation. This eliminates cases such as forgetting to change the thermostat and heating the home too much while you are away or coming home to a chilly house. You can program the thermostat to bring the temperature up to your preferred setting an hour or so ahead of your arrival. Page 5 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 3. Winterize Your Home Properly Many furnaces have to work extra hard to heat a home simply because the home is poorly sealed and lacks sufficient insulation. When warmth is able to escape from your home, the furnace has to keep running to bring the temperature up. Weatherproof your windows and doors first, as this is usually where you will find the largest air leaks. Besides caulking and adding weather stripping, adding thick thermal curtains to windows will also keep heat inside where it belongs. Page 6 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 Next, look for air leaks around plumbing pipes coming into the home, electrical outlets and skylights. Any opening between your home and the outdoors allows heated air an escape route. Make sure your attic insulation is sufficient. The attic is one of the most overlooked areas of a home, but problems here make a huge difference in energy efficiency of your heating system. Call a technician to come out for an attic inspection as soon as possible, preferably before cold weather hits. Most older homes do not have adequate attic insulation. Page 7 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 4. Get Furnace Maintenance Checkup’s Malfunctioning furnaces are not efficient furnaces, no matter how new they are. The best way to make sure your furnace stays operating as it should is to call for maintenance visits from a qualified HVAC technician. These should be scheduled at least annually. Many things occur during a maintenance visit. Your technician can answer your questions, clean dirty components that you cannot safely access, check the safety features, and make repairs. Page 8 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 5. Upgrade Your Old Furnace Even when they are functioning well, old furnaces cannot match the energy savings of high-efficiency furnaces that are manufactured today. A Denver furnace replacementinvestment you make right now can pay itself off in time financially through lower energy bills. You will also feel more comfortable, and your air quality should improve as these furnaces are designed better than any in the past. Page 9 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver
SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver 6810 N Broadway, Unit NDenver, CO 80221 office@swanheating.com | (303) 993-1406 In some cases, you will qualify for rebates from the government or other incentives for choosing energy efficient furnaces such as those with an Energy Star label. It is best to plan for energy savings early in the fall before you have to use your furnace. However, any time is a good time to begin making energy-saving changes. To learn more about improving energy-efficiency this winter, or to enquire about furnace maintenance plans, give us a call today! Page 10 of 10 Copyright © 2016 SWAN Plumbing, Heating & Air of Denver