by Deborah Percy

Created on: November 03, 2009

An electric furnace is ideal in some properties because it is almost maintenance free and extremely safe. Taking care of an electric furnace involves cleaning, changing the filter and calling the repairman when necessary. Properties with no access to piped gas, and where propane or oil are not suitable, may have electric furnaces.

The owner's manual should be studied as this will detail the what and how of electric furnace maintenance. If the manual is missing the manufacturer may be able to provide a replacement and will be able to give advice. In order to take care of the furnace one should read and note what is said about cleaning, the frequency of having it professional serviced and how often the filter should be changed on a particular model. Filters should be checked monthly and may need replacing that often.

* Electric Furnace, Safety First

Electric furnaces are safe in that there is no risk of a gas leak or carbon monoxide poisoning. The dangers are the same as those for any electrical appliance: it must be installed correctly, the wiring must be safe and sound, the circuit breaker must be in working order. If you have reason to suspect faults with any of the electrical installation then you must contact an electrician.

An electric furnace has a high voltage electric current so unqualified people should never unscrew and panels to change components or clean the inside. Even if the power is disconnected, wires could be inadvertently misplaced creating a dangerous situation when the electricity is turned on.

* Changing the filter

Furnace filters are supposed to be changed regularly, most should be inspected monthly and changed once ever one or two months. The exact frequency will depend on the type of filter and the environment in which it is working. The filter prevents small particles in your home being sucked into the components of the furnace and causing them to breakdown, especially the blower.

* Registers and Ducts

Registers should be cleaned, fully opened and kept free of carpets, rugs and furniture. Air should be able to circulate fully and freely which is how the system was designed.

Ducts should be checked for leaks and sealed. There is no evidence to suggest cleaning the ducts will be any benefit to the heating system or the air quality. Ducts should be cleaned, of course, if there is a specific problem such as a pest infestation.

* Cleaning the Electric Furnace

You can dry dust the outside of the furnace but if you want to clean it with

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