Several Myths About Furnace Heating Systems

When it comes to preparing a home for the winter months, there are few things that are more important than making sure that the furnace is in good working condition. To be effective at this task, you might need to have some myths corrected.

Myth: Furnace Maintenance Is Not Really Needed On A Yearly Basis 

Homeowners will often delay having their furnaces serviced for many years. Failing to service a furnace may not seem like a major mistake because the furnace will likely work without experiencing problems. However, this will greatly increase the odds of the furnace experiencing mechanical problems, cause the device's energy efficiency to drop, and pose a risk of toxic fumes accumulating in the home. With a yearly servicing, you will be able to mitigate these problems, and a professional furnace service technician will likely be able to complete the maintenance checks in a just a few hours. Because these service visits are short and can be completed on weekends, you can make sure that your furnace is kept in good condition while minimizing the stress and inconvenience the disruptions to your daily routine may cause.  

Myth: Corrosion Does Not Pose Major Problems For Gas Furnaces

Corrosion can be a common problem for furnaces that are kept in the basement. Over time, condensation can repeatedly form on the exterior of the furnace, which can cause the protective coating on the metal to weaken. Eventually, this will result in the furnace's exterior developing rust. While you might assume that this is a minor problem, it can pose a significant risk to the house as well as cause noticeable efficiency losses. If you are noticing condensation regularly forming on your furnace, you might want to consider placing a dehumidifier in the room with it. This will reduce the humidity enough to prevent large amounts of condensation from forming.

Myth: There Is Nothing You Can Do To Improve The Lifespan Of The Furnace's Air Filter

Replacing the air filter is among the most important things that you will need to do for your furnace on a regular basis. The air filter will remove any dust or allergens from the air before it is heated by the furnace and pumped through the house. Unfortunately, replacing your furnace's air filters can become somewhat expensive, but you can reduce the frequency with which your filters will need to be replaced. This can be done through keeping the area around the furnace thoroughly cleaned and dusted. Also, you can place an air purifier near the furnace's primary intake, and this will remove much of the particulate matter from the air before it ever reaches the furnace.