How To Check And Repair A Central Heating Furnace
Posted on: 17 September 2015
Share
Over the years, your furnace will probably become less effective. You might notice reduced airflow, even when it is on the highest setting. Or, you might notice that the air does not seem as hot as it should be. Some people think that these are signs that it is time to buy a new furnace. However, before you go shopping for a new furnace, you should take a closer look at your furnace and HVAC system to determine if you can fix the problem on your own. Here are two very common things that could be hampering your HVAC system.
Clogged Air Vents
Many people think that their vents are clean and clear because they clean them on a regular basis. However, if you just clean your vents by wiping them down on the outside, this will not necessarily ensure that they are not clogged. In fact, wiping down your vents with the rag could just push dirt and dust deep in between events, clogging them severely. So, to give your vents make thorough cleaning, you should take them off the wall completely. This is usually very easy because most dense I just attached to the wall with two small screws. Just remove them with the flathead screwdrivers and pull the vent out of the duct fitting.
When it comes to cleaning in between the vents, you can wipe them down with the sponge or even spray them out with water. But, you should not do this if your vents are metal or wood. While your vents are taken off the wall, you should also inspect the outside rim of the ducts. The ducts can often get clogged, especially around the ridge of the drywall. At this point, you can put your vents back on the wall, make sure they're all in the open position, and then test your furnace to esure you have properly fixed and helped with the furnace repair.
Clean the Air Filter
Another factor that could hugely decrease the effectiveness of your furnace is a clogged filter. Furnace filters are cheap and easy to change. All you have to do is locate the filter, it is usually behind a small panel or hinged door near the side or front of the furnace. Pull the filter out and examine it. If it is not too dirty, it might be pointless to replace it. Just lightly dusted off and put it back in place. Before you put the filter back in, clean out the filter compartment, focusing on the input hose. The junction where the hose comes into the filter compartment can often get clogged up, even if the filter shows no signs of dust build up. Installing a new filter is also smart because it will help with the cleanliness of the air that your furnace puts out. It can be very helpful in trapping allergens and mold.
As you can see, these two simple upgrades do not require any difficult labor for special tools. In the long run, they couldn't even completely fix your problem, saving you money and time.