Dirt is one of your furnace’s biggest enemies. A dirty furnace can not only cause unexpected breakdowns of your heating system, but it can also have a direct effect on the health and energy consumption of your home. Today we’re going to take a look at some of the top reasons you should keep your furnace clean and the two best ways you can go about doing it.
Top 4 reasons to keep your furnace clean
- Better air quality. If dirt is making its way to your furnace, there’s a good chance it’s also getting into your home’s airflow. Dust particles and other airborne contaminants can make you sick and aggravate symptoms of asthma and allergies. By taking steps to keep your furnace clean, you’ll also improve the quality of air that you and your family breathe.
- Improved efficiency.If you don’t keep your furnace clean, dirt can build up on different components of your heating system and reduce its efficiency. A dirty air filter, for example, will restrict your furnace’s airflow and cause your blower motor to work harder than normal to compensate. When dirt builds up on your blower’s blades, it can weigh them down and reduce their efficiency. In either scenario, your furnace will have to work harder and consume more energy, which will cause your utility bills to rise. Keeping your furnace clean will avoid these problems and allow your heating system to operate efficiently.
- A safer home. When your heating system has restricted airflow due to dirt buildup (as described in the point above), your furnace will overheat and put extra stress on your heat exchanger. That extra stress can cause your heat exchanger to crack and allow carbon monoxide to get into your home’s air. Keeping your furnace clean will help avoid this dangerous problem.
- Less unexpected repairs. Lack of cleaning is one of the top reasons a furnace unexpectedly breaks down. Oftentimes, these breakdowns lead to expensive repairs that could have been avoided if the furnace was cleaned properly. Some of these problems can also take years off of the operating life of your heating system.
How to keep your furnace clean
The two best things you can do to keep your furnace clean are to keep up with your filter changes and have your furnace tuned up once a year. By keeping up with your filter changes, you can prevent dirt from building up on your furnace, improve indoor air quality and prevent airflow issues. During an annual tune-up, your furnace will be completely cleaned and prepared to run safely and efficiently for the heating season to come.
If you have any questions about keeping a clean furnace, or if you’d like a heating and cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, your St. Louis HVAC company. We service the St. Louis area and surrounding towns like Clayton, Lake St. Louis, and O’Fallon.
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