Furnaces have a relatively long lifespan of around 15 to 20 years. However, that's not a guarantee that your furnace will last that long. You must be actively involved to get more years of service from your heating system. So, how do you get a furnace to serve you for more years? Well, the following tips can help extend the life of your furnace.
Get Seasonal Maintenance
Furnace maintenance is often ignored, yet it's the least you can do to keep the entire system healthy. Your furnace might be running pretty well, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need maintenance.
As a responsible homeowner, you should hire an HVAC technician to service your furnace after the cold spell is over. The technician will check for any damages and repair them in time for the next season. Additionally, the expert will tune up the various components to ensure your furnace continues to run effectively.
Act Quickly on Repairs
Servicing your furnace should keep its performance at optimum levels, but that doesn't mean it won't have a few problems. Every furnace will encounter some problems that can be sorted through repairs. Sadly, people ignore minor issues as long as they haven't interfered with the furnace's performance. Well, that's not the way to go about it. You are required to act quickly on both minor and major repairs. Ignoring them will come to haunt you sooner than later.
Replace Filters on Time
Changing filters is the least you can do to extend the life of your furnace. It's a job that you are required to do every few months. Replacing the air filters ensures your furnace isn't working hard enough to keep your space warm. Remember that clogged filters restrict or reduce airflow, forcing your furnace to work extra hard to achieve the desired temperatures. You can prevent that by changing the air filters on time.
Clean and Seal the Ductwork
Servicing your furnace can help increase its lifespan, but you shouldn't forget to do the same for your ductwork. Remember, the furnace will depend on your ductwork to circulate warm air. As such, you need to ensure the ductwork stays clean. Otherwise, your air filters will get clogged up and cause the furnace to strain. Also, ensure the ductwork has no holes or gaps that will leak the warm air and have your furnace overworking to keep your space warm.
Other tips to consider are:
- Add attic insulation
- Upgrade to a programmable thermostat
- Use your fans intelligently
For more information, contact a heating service near you.