Heating Tips For Gas Home Furnaces

If you have a gas furnace, you’re probably always looking for ways to make it more efficient and to make it last longer, too. The question is, should you keep an older unit that’s working well, or should you replace it with a newer and possibly more energy-efficient model? The answer to that question is usually that as long as the gas furnace you have is doing the job properly, you should not need to replace it. New gas furnaces are certainly cheaper in recent years, but even so, you shouldn’t replace them until it’s truly time to do so.

To keep your gas furnace running most efficiently, make sure you perform basic routine maintenance on a regular basis. One thing you should do is change your gas furnace filters often. Replace it every other month if you have a combination heating/cooling system, for greatest efficiency. If the gas furnace’s only function is to heat your home, then replace the filter in the spring just before you turn the furnace off for the season. By replacing the filter when you turn the furnace off for the season, it will already be installed when fall rolls around and you won’t have to remember to put a new one in then.

Another thing you should do regularly is to make sure you check floor and baseboard vents where heat is directed. The ductwork should be clear of debris and you should vacuum grates as often as you vacuum floors in general. It’s also a good idea to have someone who is professional come in and clean up the ductwork so that cobwebs, dust and other debris doesn’t collect in the ductwork and cause problems.

It’s also a good idea to use your own common sense in order to prevent costly repairs to your gas furnace later. When you change the filter, check the rest of the furnace in addition. One caution is that before you try to do any sort of inspecting with the furnace, turn off any power components — gas, electrical — to protect yourself from injury. You can take a vacuum hose and gently vacuum out debris you see and then check the belts to make sure they’re still tight. If a belt is worn or loose, the furnace is output will be compromised. In addition, vacuum out any vents on the outside of the unit, too.

When you are inspecting the furnace, make sure you sniff. Use your nose. Do you smell gas? If so, you might have a leak and you should call a professional to inspect it right away. If you think you smell gas but you’re not sure, you can spray soapy water on connectors, junctions, or anyplace else a leak might occur. If you see water bubbling, you know you have a leak.

If your gas furnace has a pilot light, check it for build up, and make sure that the thermostat is working properly. Oil the motor and any other moving parts on regular basis. Your furnace should have an owner’s manual, which you should follow carefully to do these simple types of repairs. If you are at all in doubt, though, make sure you call a professional to do the job right, just to be safe.

There are other things you can do to make your gas furnace more efficient, too. One thing is to walk through the house and make sure you don’t have any drafty places that could be sealed up. Doors, windows, and improperly insulated places can let heat escape and make your furnace work harder than it should have to. Taking care of these drafts by sealing them up will improve how your house feels without making your gas furnace work harder.

If you can’t afford these repairs yourself, rest assured that you can probably get help from the government through state, local or even federal agencies. Many of these agencies pay for energy audits, wherein a professional will come in and assess your needs and then recommend what you need to do to take care of things. These agencies can help you with costs such as weather stripping and can also partially reimburse you for things like energy efficient windows, among other cost-saving and energy saving measures.

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