Keep Your Furnace Running Properly

Keep Your Furnace Running Properly

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During the typically cold Midwest winters, Iowans depend heavily upon gas furnaces to keep their homes warm. Modern gas furnaces provide evenly distributed heat to every room, and they are more energy-efficient than ever before. Depending on their efficiency standards, gas furnaces can last for 20 to 25 years.

Still, keeping one operational for that entire lifespan requires regular checkups and upkeep. For furnace preventative maintenance in Des Moines, IA, take the following steps and factors into consideration:

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  • Stick to a Regular Maintenance Schedule: Gas furnaces need annual maintenance to guarantee they continue running effectively and efficiently, and given that furnaces are heavily relied upon in winter, it makes sense to have them checked out by an HVAC professional in the fall before usage rates rise.
  • Make Sure the Surrounding Area Is Clear: Most gas furnaces are kept in areas away from heavy foot traffic, but it is for that reason that they’re easy to forget about. When you make regular checkups on your furnace, make sure that it’s free of clutter within at least a three-foot radius of the burners, and never store flammable items or debris in the area.
  • Change the Filter Regularly: Gas furnace filters get clogged within just a few months of use, and that sort of congestion poses safety risks and cuts down on energy efficiency.
    There’s no cookie-cutter answer as to how often furnace filters need to be changed — every unit’s different, after all — so it is best to consult your unit’s manufacturer or talk to a provider regarding furnace preventative maintenance in Des Moines, IA, in order to find out how often you need to change the filter.
  • Install and Monitor Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Carbon monoxide leaks are extraordinarily dangerous, but they’re also impossible to detect on one’s own, as the gas is both odorless and colorless. Any home that uses natural gas needs multiple carbon monoxide detectors to remain safe. Test each of yours and change their batteries every six months. Any that have been in use for six years or more should be replaced with new units.

Never Skip Out On Furnace Preventative Maintenance In Des Moines, IA

Even the slightest symptom — from a strange noise or a noticeable power drop — can indicate a serious problem with your gas furnace. When you sense a problem, don’t delay in getting repairs: Contact True Comfort Heating, Cooling and Plumbing to schedule gas furnace maintenance before winter arrives.