What’s the greatest enemy of our furnaces? No, we’re not talking about the chilly temperatures that seem to make us uncomfortable.
Nor is it the energy bill that tends to give us stress headaches and make us upset. The real foil, the villain in our furnace’s story, is neglect.
A neglected furnace is more likely to become unsafe, unhappy, and eventually break down prematurely.
So, would you believe us if we said that one of the best things you can do for your furnace is to pay attention to it? While furnace repairs in High Bridge, NJ are absolutely necessary in many cases, there are also things that homeowners can do at home–for free–that will play a major role in how long your system lasts.
Today, we’d like to highlight one important trick that can help you save money and time, avoid stress, and overall keep your home more comfortable. Keep reading to learn more!
Introducing the Air Filter
Every forced-air heating system, from furnaces to heat pumps, utilize air filters. They’re required since they protect some of the interior components of your system from dust, debris, pet dander, and other indoor contaminants that might otherwise clog up the system and cause it to break down more frequently.
The air filter is one of the only components in the system that can actually be handled by a homeowner, and we’ll mention how below.
But first, we’d like to talk about some of the great benefits that come from the upkeep of this part, and why just a bit of attention might do a lot of heavy lifting!
The Air Filter Protects Your System
The air filter component protects the sensitive parts of your furnace, from the heat exchanger to the blower fan.
Dust and debris might seem harmless to the naked eye, but they can combine together to create thick sheets or layers of dust which can inhibit airflow and wear down parts of the system. Neglecting to change the air filter can risk a much earlier replacement date.
Better Efficiency
Your furnace runs smoothly and efficiently when it has access to fresh air regularly. If the air filter gets clogged up with dust, pet dander, or volatile organic compounds, then it will fail to do so properly. This can lead to higher heating bills and poor comfort control. Change your air filter regularly to avoid this.
You Can Do it!
As we mentioned above, it’s entirely common for customers and homeowners to remove and replace their air filters, as long as they do it correctly.
These components are specifically designed to be handled by customers, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally breaking it or mishandling it. And even if you do break it, it’s one of the cheapest components to replace, so we want all of our potential customers to have confidence when handling such a part.
Just remember two important details when removing and replacing your air filter. The first is to always shut the system off when doing this.
Don’t let contaminants enter your system while you’re changing the air filter. The second detail is to change the filter every 1-3 months to ensure maximum protection. Why not write the dates down on your calendar so you don’t forget?
Contact Schaible’s Plumbing & Heating Inc. to invest in furnace repairs, or for any filter-related questions you might have.