Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes warm weather and the perfect opportunity to clean and organize your home. Your furnace has just spent the last few months working overtime to keep your family warm over the winter. Now that the weather’s warmer, you’ll need to do some maintenance work to keep your furnace in ideal shape and ready for the next cold Alberta winter!
Why Your Furnace Needs Spring Maintenance
There are a few different reasons why it’s important to perform spring maintenance on your furnace. First, spring will bring allergens into your home, such as pollen and dust. Your other spring cleaning duties might also kick up other dirt and dust. All of this can build up and cause inefficiencies or problems in your furnace.
And finally, if it’s been a while since your last furnace and duct cleaning, you might have a build-up that won’t smell good or be healthy when you fire your furnace up again in the late fall or early winter.
Keeping your furnace in good shape also increases your energy efficiency and lowers your utility bills, as well as helping you avoid unwanted repairs or replacements.
Your Spring Maintenance Checklist
Change Out the Furnace Filter
Furnace filters are key to maintaining the indoor air quality of your home and keeping energy costs down. A dirty filter means your furnace will be working harder, so its energy efficiency becomes significantly lowered. This also means that allergens can accumulate in the system and be spread around your home, which is particularly bad if someone in your family has allergies or asthma. It’s definitely a good idea to switch out your filter before the warm weather hits.
Check The Ductwork
Spring is the perfect time to look over your ductwork and ensure it isn’t damaged. Damaged ductwork can heavily raise your energy bills and spread dust around your home, as well as unevenly heating your home. Plus, you’ll want clean and healthy air flowing through your home as your central air conditioner kicks in with the warm weather. Twenty to thirty percent of the air flowing through your ductwork is lost due to problems with the ductwork. Check for tears and inspect the duct joints for any leaks. If repairs need to be done, you’ll have plenty of time for a repair crew to fix it before the weather gets cold again.
Cleaning
Over the winter months, your furnace will attract plenty of dust and debris. It’s important to clean up as much of this mess as possible. Clean the area around your furnace and get any objects out of the way. You can also clean the moving parts in your furnace using compressed air and a vacuum. If it’s been more than a year since your last professional furnace cleaning, be sure to call in your local duct and furnace cleaning company for a thorough clean.
Schedule an Inspection and Tune-Up
Having your furnace inspected by a professional is a great way to make sure your furnace is running as smoothly as possible. Spring is the perfect time to do this, as after a long winter, your furnace may be struggling with unforeseen problems. Getting a tune-up will save you money on repairs in the future, and ensure that your furnace is prepared for the upcoming months. Plus, you’ll get all the benefits of having a properly running furnace, including energy efficiency, great indoor air quality, and peace of mind.
Order Your New Furnace Filters
Changing out your furnace filter is potentially the most important part of spring furnace maintenance. The Clean Air Club offers an array of different filters to help keep your furnace running smoothly throughout the year and runs on a subscription so you always have a clean filter on hand (and get reminders to change your filter). Order your new furnace filters today and enjoy all the benefits of an energy-efficient furnace.
