Simple Tips on Furnace Maintenance for New Homeowners

Buying your first home is an exhilarating, rewarding experience. For those who are experiencing this awesome accomplishment, congratulations! Of course, the excitement can soon be tempered by the realization that with homeownership comes responsibility for home maintenance. One of the most important systems homeowners have to maintain is the HVAC system, which keeps the home climate-controlled and circulating healthy air for you and your family to breathe.

Now that winter is settled here in the Zeeland, Holland, and Grand Rapids, MI areas, your neighbors at Mast Heating & Cooling want to make sure that your furnace is in tip-top shape. With that in mind, here is some general furnace information as well as maintenance tips for all you first-time homeowners out here.

FURNACE MAINTENANCE HELPS LOWER UTILITY BILLS

Before you can maintain your furnace, it’s good to have a general understanding of how it works. The common furnace used in a residential forced air central heating system is fueled by gas. It consists of four main parts: the burner, heat exchanger, ductwork, and ventilation pipes or flue. The burner ignites the fuel and the flames heat exchanger. The exchanger then heats the incoming air and the blower forces the heated air throughout the home via the ductwork. Keeping that basic anatomy in mind, here are some tips that will help keep your system running smoothly and efficiently during the long winter season:

• Change air filters. Let’s say it again, shall we: change air filters. This is the easiest and most effective thing you can do and it helps your system breathe and operate efficiently.
• Keep an eye on the pilot light. Here is all you need to remember: it should always be blue. If it is yellow or any other color, this can mean the furnace is not functioning properly and could be producing unhealthy amounts of carbon monoxide.
• Pay attention to any noises. Any unusual noises coming from your furnace or HVAC system should not be ignored as this could be a symptom of a furnace in need of repair.
• Schedule regular maintenance. In addition to the basic tips we outlined above, your furnace and HVAC system should be inspected regularly by licensed professionals, who are trained to spot potential issues that you can’t.

In regards to the last tip on our list, Mast Heating & Cooling offers an option for our customers that ensures your system will receive the regular maintenance it needs and help prevent system breakdowns. Membership in our Maintenance Plan includes twice-per-year system checkups, free standard 1-inch filters and 15 percent off all parts. Give us a call today to find out more about our Comfort Club and all our HVAC services. And don’t forget to check in with us on Facebook and Twitter!