During Ohio’s harsh winter, you rely on your furnace to keep your home warm and comfortable, even as temperatures plummet outside. While most modern equipment is extremely reliable, neglecting routine furnace maintenance can lead to sudden breakdowns, potentially leaving your home uninhabitable. The tips below will help get your furnace ready for the cold months ahead.

Furnace Maintenance Tips

1. Test the Igniter

Most newer furnaces have an electronic igniter, so you don’t have to worry about keeping the pilot light lit. If your heating system doesn’t kick on right away, hitting the reset button usually puts the igniter back online.

2. Replace Filters on Oil-Burning Furnaces

Oil-burning systems need a little more routine furniture maintenance to keep going throughout the winter. Before winter begins, check the oil filter, have the burner nozzles cleaned, and brush soot and debris off of the heat exchanger.

3. Clear the Area Around the Furnace

During warmer weather, boxes, furniture, and other items might pile around the furnace in the basement. This makes it harder to maintain and presents a fire hazard when the system runs in the winter, so rearrange the basement to give your furnace at least a few feet of space.

4. Change the Air Filter

A dirty air filter forces your HVAC equipment to work harder than necessary, putting extra wear and tear on vital components and potentially taking years off the life of the furnace. Change your filter at the beginning of each season, and check it every month throughout the winter. In general, replace it every two to three months.

5. Schedule an Inspection

Every heating system can benefit from annual inspections by a skilled professional who can keep it running at peak efficiency. During the inspection, they may make minor adjustments, clean off dirty parts, and identify potential issues before they turn into significant, expensive repairs.

Whether you need emergency repairs or routine furnace maintenance, NDC Heating & Cooling has the expertise and resources to keep your home comfortable through even the coldest winter. Their experienced technicians offer fast, friendly tuneups and maintenance to homeowners throughout Columbiana County, OH, delivering a level of service that has kept clients coming back for over 13 years. Visit their website for more on their furnace maintenance services, follow their Facebook for tips and advice, or call (330) 457-2562 to schedule an appointment.