by Deborah Percy

Created on: October 30, 2009

Maintenance of a gas furnace includes many separate task that take place to make it perform well and keep it working safely.

What is required by way of maintenance will vary for different homes and different furnaces. Broadly the schedule should be as follows with activities which take place most often being detailed higher up the list.

* Keep supply and return registers clean and clear of furniture, drapes, rugs and piles of books, boxes or toys. In many homes this will happen without any thought of it being a part of furnace maintenance but this end of the force air heating system must be kept clear for the whole system to run as it was designed. It has been found that the system will work best when all or most of the registers are open and it is potentially dangerous for more than 60% of them to be closed or blocked (

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 2003).

* Check that the flue gas vents are clear they could get blocked by dead leaves, plants or any kind of debris. The consequences of such a blockage will depend on many factors, the system may close down or the flue gases, including poisonous carbon monoxide, could be forced back into the home.

* Check the furnace's air filters monthly and replace when required. The filter protects the fan (blower) and other parts of the furnace from small particles. When clogged up the filter obstructs the air flow to the fan, making the whole system work harder. The best filters can also help to improve air quality for breathing by removing very small particles from the atmosphere, such as bacteria.

* Check the settings for the thermostat and aquastat. A couple of degrees higher than necessary will involve the furnace working much harder, burning more fuel and resulting in higher energy bills.

* Check the fan settings if the fan continues for a long time after the furnace is turned off and cold air is coming out of the warm air ducts. This is particularly a problem if the fan settings are wrong or the furnace is over sized. It is thought that many furnaces in the U.S. are bigger than necessary as people, mistakenly, think bigger will be better. A HVAC will be able to make adjustments.

* Inspect and seal ducts. Leaks on the ducting makes the heating system very inefficient and requires the furnace to work harder. Although this can be expensive to have the ducting professionally sealed, this should pay for itself within one or two years through reduced energy bills for heating and air conditioning.

* Have the furnace serviced annually in accordance with the schedule provided with the users manual. This may be less frequent if recommended by the manufacturer or the HVAC contractor. Adjustments will be made to correct the gas pressure and ensure the system is performing well. Safety checks will also be carried out. The engineer will assess the condition of the furnace and may be able to identify any immanent problems before the furnace completely stops working.

Regular maintenance of a gas furnace has many benefits. Maintenance will help keep it working at its most efficient, reduce fuel bills, reduce the potential for untimely breakdown at the coldest time of year and prolong the lifespan of the furnace. It will also ensure that the furnace is safe to use.

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