A furnace improves comfort in a home because it can heat fast. Furnaces are cost-efficient to operate because most types use natural gas for fuel. However, the initial cost of purchasing a furnace is a bit high, creating a need to maintain a furnace in good condition to extend its lifespan. The life expectancy of your furnace will increase if you do the following.

Replace Filters Frequently

Furnace filters trap contaminants in the air like dirt, dust, hair, mold, and other allergens. The trapping prevents them from reaching the furnace and affecting indoor air quality.

Change the filters regularly to keep your furnace operating optimally and ensure that you have clean air to breathe. Typically, most furnace filters need to be changed every three months, but you may need to change yours more frequently if you have pets or someone in your family has allergies. Regardless of how long it’s been, change filters when you cannot see the filter material beneath the debris.

Reduce Furnace Load

Reducing the workload prolongs the life of a furnace, especially if it is aging. Give your furnace a break by using ceiling fans. When switched to turn in a clockwise direction, ceiling fans help push warm air down from the ceiling and around your rooms.

Alternative methods to keep warm in cool weather also reduce the reliance on your HVAC unit. Some of these methods include:

Dressing warmly
Opening blinds to let in heat from the sun
Setting a thermostat to a lower temperature when possible
Adding a space heater to provide supplemental heat

Install a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature to fit the hours you spend at home and save your heater from running full throttle when you are away. It will extend the life of your furnace because it does not have to function when there is no one at home.

Many smart thermostats also allow you to adjust your home’s temperature using a smartphone or tablet. This means that if you forget to adjust your thermostat before leaving home or unexpected weather arrives while you’re on vacation, you can adjust it remotely.

Get Regular Maintenance

One of the best ways to ensure that your furnace lasts and runs great throughout its lifetime is by getting regular maintenance. At Loren’s Heating & Air, we offer furnace maintenance throughout Salem, OR and the surrounding area. Our team also installs and repairs heating systems and offers cooling and indoor air quality services. Contact us today to set up an appointment.