Gas Furnace Maintenance: 6 Tips to Save Money

Don’t be surprised with a broken gas furnace, because emergency gas furnace repairs are not only costly but inconvenient to your normal routine.

The best way to avoid this from happening is to properly maintain your gas furnace and anticipate the potential problems before they happen. 

To help you prevent your gas furnace from breaking, check out these 6 tips. You will not only save money and be more energy-efficient but also save yourself from stress.

1. Test the thermostat on your gas furnace

The most common problem gas furnace users encounter starts with the thermostat. Set up your thermostat in your room. Does it feel uncomfortable even if you continue to control the temperature? If the answer is yes, you have a problem with your thermostat because it isn’t sending the right signals to your furnace. This usually happens when you have been using it for many years.

In the worst-case scenario, it totally stops working and needs a full replacement. But if you are lucky, you might just need to check the wirings and make sure they are tight and fit properly.

There are also instances when the temperature in the room suddenly drops or increases. It can also be a sign that your thermostat needs to be replaced.

If you are unsure of what to do with your thermostat or you keep on having problems with it, it is best to contact a professional that offers gas furnace service.

2. Inspect burner flames on your gas furnace

Believe it or not, the color of the burner flames on your gas furnace can tell you a lot. A healthy and working gas furnace should produce blue to almost completely blue flames. It is commonly distinguished by a lively and roaring blue flame with a lighter blue triangle in its center. You might also see some tiny yellow parts, which is totally normal.

A blue flame shows safe and highly efficient combustion. The gas is being burnt and used efficiently without any wastage. In addition, blue flames are way hotter so they can heat your room or home more efficiently and you are not wasting money.

If the flame in your burner is orange or yellow or if orange or yellow is popping up, that is a clear sign that you have combustion problems. In addition, if you see long streaks of any color in your flames, your gas furnace needs cleaning or adjustments. In both these 2 cases, you will need to hire professional HVAC technicians that offer heating service Burnaby. If you are not an experienced technician, please do not do this yourself.

3. Change gas furnace filter

The filter in your gas furnace does a very important job. It is the one responsible for filtering the air, making sure there are no particles, then delivering warm air through the rooms in your home. The filter removes all kinds of particles in the air, such as dust, mites, pollen, bacteria, spores, and more.

If your filter is dirty, it will cause blockages and hinder the airflow inside the furnace. It won’t work efficiently and will need to burn more gas. Hence, it costs you more money. It is best to replace your gas furnace filter. If you are using inexpensive air filters, you need to change them after using them for 30 to 90 days. More expensive disposable pleated ones may last at least 3 months or more depending on the quality of your furnace.

You can look at the manufacturer’s recommendation or call your plumbing and heating professional for more information.

4. Clean the blower cavity on your gas furnace

This should be your next step after changing the filters. Because it is right next to the air filter. Whenever some dust, debris, dirt, pollen, and spores pass through the air filter, they will go to the blower.

Clean the blower cavity and all the pulleys and belts using a damp cloth. Remove all the panels which cover the filter in order to easily access the blower and its parts. You need to remove all the accumulated dirt which can hinder the airflow in your furnace.

5. Inspect the fan on your gas furnace

Aside from the general inspection of your gas furnace, you need to check the components of the fan. If you are not familiar with this, you should call a trusted professional HVAC technician and have them inspect the fan components. A thorough inspection will reveal all the things you need to clean and/or replace.

An advantage of calling a professional compared to doing it yourself is that they are experienced in this line of work. They will be able to identify the problem (if there are any) and are the things you need to look out for.

Do this routine inspection once a year. Preferable before the winter season. Call your expert heating and plumbing services provider and schedule an inspection.

6. Seal and clean leaky air ducts on your gas furnace

Gas furnace air ducts are prone to damage especially if you are using a forced-air furnace. You will have to clean the ducts more frequently to prevent any blockages or permanent damage. You can use a high-powered vacuum cleaner to do this. When you are done cleaning the air ducts, cover all ducts to prevent air from leaking. This will help make sure your gas furnace is working efficiently.

Proper maintenance of your gas furnace is really important. It burns gas in order to heat the air passing through the machine, through the filter to the blower, then your room. If you do not clean all the components of your gas furnace, the air inside your home might get contaminated causing health problems like allergies, asthma, etc.

In addition, you are dealing with a gas-powered furnace. If a gas leak happens, it will cause many health problems, like carbon monoxide poisoning, or property damage. You need to remember, a simple spark can ignite natural gas, leading to a fire.

When to call a professional for your gas furnace

If you do not know how to properly maintain or clean your gas furnace, do not hesitate to call a professional HVAC technician. They will surely be willing to help you out! 

Our team at MidCity Plumbers is the one you can rely on for plumbing and heating! MidCity Plumbers has solutions to help you save time and money with your gas furnace. Call today at 📞 (778) 772-8676 and we can schedule a consultation for a gas furnace service. We also offer FREE in-house assessments and inspections. 

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