Soon you will need to switch your home comfort system from cooling to heating. Before you make the switch, we recommend that you perform this four step furnace tune up to avoid an unnecessary service call or worse damage your furnace.
Step 1: Change Your Air Filter
The number one most important thing you can do to prevent problems with your furnace is to replace the filter on a regular basis. Summer has come to and end and the unit has been working hard to keep your home comfortable. Your filter may need to be replaced before you start your furnace. We recommend that you replace your air filter every 1 to 3 months. If you have a high efficiency air filter setup we recommend that you replace your filter every 6 to 12 months. This is the most important step for the four step furnace tune up.
Step 2: Check your flue/vent pipe.
Before you start your furnace go ahead and inspect the flue/vent pipe. The pipe should have a minimum of 1 inch of clearance to any combustible materials such as wood. The vent should be one solid piece without any areas where exhaust fumes can leak into the home. On high efficiency gas furnaces it is also important to make sure that there are no water leaks on or around the vent pipe.
Step 3: Start the furnace
Now that you have made sure your air filter is clean and inspected the flue/vent pipe, you can go ahead and start your furnace. You want to make sure:
- The blower comes on and warm air is coming out of the vents.
- There are no strange noises. (whining, clunking, grinding, etc.)
- The furnace doesn’t shut off really fast.
- That there are no strange odors coming from the furnace.
Note: When you first turn on your furnace it may smell a little funny. This odor will usually go away after a few minutes. If your furnace continues to emit a strange odor you may need to schedule a service call.
Step 4: Check your furnace drain line if it has one.
Some furnaces have a condensation drain line. It is a good idea to check this line after the furnace has run for several hours to make sure it is draining. You should not see any water on the furnace or in the furnace drain pan.
When to call a professional?
There are many more steps to completely inspecting and tuning a gas fired furnace. Most of them should be done by a qualified professional. However if you are comfortable performing these four simple task, they will help you to identify problems and prevent some major issues this season. If you happen to notice there may be a problem with your furnace or you would like to schedule a professional Furnace Tune Up, you can always give us a call at Frontline Comfort Systems. We have highly trained technicians ready to help. Our number is 405-440-3279
Learn more about a Professional Furnace Tune Up!
