A few months ago, my air conditioner completely died. I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat, and I didn't know what to do. The next day, I called an HVAC expert, and they came out to inspect my system. It turned out that it had failed because of filthy filters and a clogged return duct, which made me sick to my stomach. I had caused the problem, and I needed to learn how to fix things. My HVAC professional taught me a few easy maintenance techniques that I didn't know before, so that I could maintain my new system. Check out this blog to learn more about HVAC yourself.
Furnaces are quite complicated devices. Both gas and electric furnaces should be regularly serviced by HVAC contractors. However, you should familiarize yourself with your furnace, so you can identify and fix small problems without having to call and wait for an HVAC contractor. You can often make simple repairs on your own that could greatly increase the effectiveness of your furnace. This article will explain a few simple and safe ways to service and possible improve the functionality of your furnace.
Inspect the Filter
The first thing you should do before calling the contractor is inspect the furnace filter. A furnace filter is about the size of a pizza box and it is located behind the door near the front or side of the furnace. You can open the hinged door without any tools. Just pop it open and pull the filter out. If the filter has dirt caked onto the ridges, you should just replace it. Take the old filter to a home improvement or appliance store and get the right replacement. While the filter is out of the compartment, you should also look into it with a flashlight to see if there's any more dirt buildup. If so, clean it out with a hose vacuum.
With a cleaner filter, your furnace should instantly function better. You might notice better airflow and more hot air coming out of your vents. This simple repair will only take a few minutes, but it could end up saving you quite a few bucks.
Inspect the Blower
Accessing and cleaning the blower compartment is a little more difficult than accessing the filter, but it is still quite easy. First, make sure you unplug the power supply to the furnace. Then, remove the screws to the compartment door. The access door to the blower compartment is usually right in the front of the furnace, and it is clearly marked, so it is easy to find. Once the door is removed, you'll be able to see the inner workings of the blower compartment where the fan circulates the hot air into the duct system. If the fan is dirty and dusty, you can vacuum it out and clean the entire compartment. A clean lower compartment should result cleaner and stronger airflow.
If you make these two repairs and do not notice any improvement in your furnace, you should call an HVAC contractor. Unless you have experience servicing electric or gas furnaces, you should not attempt fix it by yourself.
Share12 October 2015
