How and Why to Vacuum the Furnace

Save coin and increase your heating arrangement's efficiency and comfort by following these simple steps to go on your furnace in tip-tiptop condition.

Introduction

Together, these tasks will take you less than three hours to do, price just a few dollars, and crave a few bones hand tools. That'south pretty cheap insurance for a worry-free wintertime of cozy, cost-effective warmth.

Winter'southward tough plenty without your furnace dying or non putting out enough heat. And when information technology comes to furnaces, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

So here are some basic maintenance tasks that you tin do to ensure that your natural gas or propane-fueled furnace stays running in top condition all winter.

Picket this video to see 6 tips for furnace troubleshooting:

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Project pace-by-step (xiii)

Footstep 1

Remove the Combustion Chamber Door

power

DIY maintenance will relieve you from needing a new furnace. To fix your furnace, first flip the electrical power furnace switch to "Off." Remove the combustion sleeping accommodation door past lifting upward and pulling it out, and remove the burner cover (if you take one). Information technology's normally held in identify past two screws.

Step 2

Inspect the Burner Flames

Flames

Turn the power switch on and activate the burners past turning up your thermostat. Inspect the burner flames. The flames should be adequately fifty-fifty and blue.

Yellowish flames indicate muddy burners. (Don't breathe on the flames considering the extra oxygen volition besides make them turn yellow.) Don't accommodate the burners yourself. Call in a pro.

Pace 3

Vacuum Out the Burner and Blower Cavities

Vacuum

Turn off the power switch again and shut off the gas by giving the valve one-quarter turn. Vacuum the furnace burners and the furnace base of operations. To get at the dorsum of the burners, tape a 20-in. length of 1/2-in. drain line to your vacuum hose.

Vacuum everywhere yous run across dust. While everything is open, use a flashlight to wait for signs of soot (fine blackness powder), which often indicates poor combustion. Lift off the lower door (blower door) and vacuum the blower compartment.

Step iv

Remove the Blower to Clean It

bolts

Remove the blower (besides chosen a squirrel cage) in guild to clean information technology. If you accept a control panel in front of the blower, two screws will loosen information technology and you lot tin let it hang. Side by side, using a 7/16-in. socket and ratchet, remove the 2 bolts that agree the blower in identify, so gently lift it out.

Step 5

Vacuum and Castor the Blower Blades

Clean

Make clean the blower blades thoroughly with a vacuum and small brush. Take intendance not to stress the wiring or disturb the counterweights that will exist on the fan blades. If you can't clean the blower thoroughly, don't clean it at all; you could throw it off balance.

Step half-dozen

Change the Furnace Filter

filters

Modify the furnace filter every 1 to 3 months. A $1 fiberglass filter will adequately protect the blower and blower motor. If you want to install a more expensive, high-efficiency filter, check the owner'south manual for the manufacturer recommendations.

High-efficiency filters can restrict the airflow, strain the blower motor and make your furnace less efficient. If you want cleaner air, the best pick is a divide air-cleaning system.

Step 7

Blow Dust Off the Pilot

straw

Blow dust off the airplane pilot. Directly air to the exact spot by blowing through a drinking harbinger. A muddied pilot can cause the flame sensor (or thermocouple) to get a false reading that the pilot isn't lit. Some newer furnaces take hot surface igniters instead of pilots and electronic igniters.

Step eight

Make clean the Flame Sensor

cloth

The flame sensor occasionally becomes coated with residue and volition prevent your furnace from lighting. Remove it by pulling information technology downward out of its bracket. Lightly clean the surface with fine emery cloth and slip the sensor back into its bracket.

Pace nine

Dust the Hot Surface Igniter Without Touching It

igniter

Hot surface igniters are the most common ignition system on furnaces beingness manufactured today. They have the identify of standing pilot lights and electronic igniters. Make clean the grit off the hot surface igniter past leaving the igniter in place and blowing air through a straw.

This part breaks very easily; don't even touch information technology. In fact, when you lot replace the furnace doors, do and so gently to avert breaking the igniter.

Step 10

Inspect the Bulldoze Belt

Inspect

To repair your heating, the belts on belt-driven blowers need occasional adjustment or replacement. Inspect the drive chugalug for cracks or frayed areas. When you lot install the new chugalug, tension information technology so it deflects one/ii to 3/4 in.

Step eleven

Lubricate Bearings if Necessary

lubricate

Some older furnaces accept two motor bearings and 2 blower shaft bearings that require annual oiling. Clean around the oil caps and remove the caps. Apply two to three drops of lightweight machine oil and supervene upon the caps. Don't over-lubricate!

Step 12

Adjust Dampers If Necessary

Adjust

If your furnace heating ducts also serve as air-conditioning ducts, they may have dampers that require adjusting for seasonal changes. The seasonal settings should exist marked. Ii-story homes oftentimes have divide supply trunks to serve the upstairs and downstairs.

To ship more warm air downstairs (winter setting) or more cold air upstairs (summer setting), adjust the damper handle on each supply trunk.

Step xiii

Seal Leaky Air Ducts

tape

Seal leaky ducts, especially render air ducts, with special metal tape or high temperature silicone. Then conduct a backdrafting test to make sure the combustion gases go up the flue: Arrange the thermostat so the burners come on. Hold a smoking stick of incense beside the typhoon hood. The fume should exist drawn into the hood.

Also inspect the exhaust vent pipes on your furnace and water heater (while they're cool). White powdery residue tin can indicate corrosion. Telephone call in a pro to fix these problems. If you lot're looking for the best furnace to purchase, free energy efficient brands might be the best bet.