Easy Furnace Maintenance You Can Perform During the Summer

During the summer, a furnace in Detroit isn't likely to garner much attention.  As temperatures rise maintaining your air conditioner naturally becomes a primary focus. However, there are a number of simple maintenance tasks you should consider performing for your furnace as well. Summer is the perfect season to check and repair your furnace, ensuring it’s ready to go long before you’ll need it, preventing rushed repairs later on.

Change Your Furnace Filter

Your furnace filter actually filters all the air in your home, not just the air that enters your furnace. Changing the filter regularly is necessary for both optimum air conditioner and furnace performance. Most filters are rated at 30-90 days, meaning you should change your filter after this time. Changing the filter prevents dirt and dust from accumulating inside your furnace, air conditioner, and ducts, improving their efficiency and raising the quality of your indoor air.

Clean and Check Around the Furnace

During the summer, it can be tempting to store unused winter decorations, sports equipment, and more around your furnace. However, equipment can easily fall on or against your furnace, causing damage or becoming a fire hazard. These items can also block airflow, reducing your furnace’s efficiency when you do begin to use it. Make sure the area around your furnace is clear for approximately three feet in all directions. Check that the air intakes aren't blocked or clogged with dust, and inspect the ductwork that vents heat and gases away from your home. If you spot any signs of disrepair, have them addressed by a HVAC professional.

Install or Check CO Detectors

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a common byproduct of combustion inside your furnace. This gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, but causes detrimental health effects that worsen with increasing exposure. If you don’t have CO detectors located near your furnace, install them for increased safety. If you do have detectors, check that they have fresh batteries and that the wiring appears intact.

Seal Leaky Ducts

Your furnace blows heated air up through a series of ducts to be dispersed throughout your home. Check your furnace’s ductwork for air leaks and seal them with duct tape or duct mastic. Seal open areas around where the duct enters the ceiling above it with expanding foam purchased from a home improvement store. Taping insulation rated for furnace ductwork around the duct where it emerges from the unit can reduce heat lost through this essential connection.

Caring for the furnace in your Detroit home before you need it will ensure that it’s ready to provide efficient, safe heating once temperatures drop in the fall. Click through our website to learn more about the full range of services provided by Andy’s Statewide. We also provide more HVAC maintenance and troubleshooting tips to help you determine when professional repairs or tune-ups are needed.