With covered vents, a dirty filter and obstructed outside vents, your furnace efficiency can decrease. These things can make your furnace work harder than it has to to keep up with heating demands. This means more expensive bills, incorrect zoning (some rooms hotter/colder than others) and can also cause your furnace to overheat.
If the air flow to your furnace is restricted by a dirty filter or cold air return vents being blocked, your furnace can overheat. This can lead to cracks in the heat exchanger which often means you need a new furnace. A cracked heat exchanger can lead to carbon monoxide (CO) leaks into your home, which can be deadly. This can also mean your furnace will not run long enough and won’t keep your house warm.
If you have highly flammable clutter around your furnace, such as furniture, wood or paper, the burners in your furnace can cause a fire.
You’d be surprised by how many furnace problems can be prevented by the homeowner. A little bit of preparation and preventative maintenance can go a long way.
All you have to do is change your filter, make sure your vents inside and outside aren’t covered, check your thermostat batteries and clear out your furnace area and you can save yourself a heap of money and make your home more comfortable.
Sounds pretty easy, doesn’t it?
