8 Easy Furnace Maintenance Tips for Florida Homeowners
The better you take care of your furnace, the better it’ll take care of you. Furnace maintenance is the simple act of cleaning your system or double-checking basic functions to make sure you can get heat without trouble.
Florida’s well-deserved reputation for mild winters is a double-edged sword. While these mellow temperatures mean you don’t have to deal with freezing hands or icy roads, you may also neglect taking care of your furnace.
Unique Services is a locally-owned heating, cooling, and plumbing service that helps homeowners keep their homes ready for winter. Our furnace maintenance tips will make sure you don’t have a nasty surprise on a chilly day. Better yet, they can help extend your system’s lifespan and even lower your heating bills.
Your Furnace Maintenance Checklist: 8 Easy Tips
If you’re new to furnace maintenance, don’t worry. Our furnace care tips are beginner-friendly and cover the basics of airflow, cleanliness, and safety so you’re ready for a Florida winter.
1. Change Your Filter
Your furnace needs a clean filter to maintain consistent airflow and heat your home quickly. If it becomes too clogged, your system may run longer than usual trying to reach a higher temperature.
It’s best to change your filter every one to three months with regular or semi-regular furnace usage. If you only use your furnace during the winter, then twice per year is usually enough.
2. Clean Out Ducts
Your furnace relies on clear ductwork to pull in fresh air and warm it up for your home. If your ducts are dirty, dusty, or clogged, your furnace will have to work too hard.
Dirty ductwork wears your furnace out, cranks up your energy bills, and leaves you with a home that doesn’t quite feel warm enough. Some homeowners prefer to clean their ductwork with a small hose vacuum, while others may hire a professional.
3. Calibrate Your Thermostat
Winter furnace maintenance will eventually point you toward your thermostat to make sure you’re not overheating your home. If you haven’t calibrated your thermostat in a while, this step will help you get more accurate temperature readings.
We highly recommend reaching out to a professional to take a look at your thermostat. This process involves comparing and contrasting its settings to make sure it’s responding to temperature changes. Since calibration may involve pulling out the unit and inspecting the wires, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you get cold easily, we recommend setting your thermostat to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during winter. If you don’t mind a bit of chill, try 60 degrees instead.
4. Check for Leaks
One of the most important furnace maintenance tips is making sure you don’t have a dangerous leak happening right under your nose. At best, a leaking furnace can be a nuisance that spikes your energy bills and wastes precious heat. At worst, this leak can be a safety hazard.
Common signs you may have a leak include:
Hissing or whistling sounds when you turn your furnace on
An odd propane or egg-like smell
Brown or yellow stains around the furnace’s vent area
When in doubt, always get a professional on the case. Furnace safety is extremely important, and the sooner you get a trained technician, the better.
5. Inspect for Damage
Sometimes your furnace sustains a little damage that you may not notice until later. If your furnace is cracked, dented, or stained, it might be time to consider a new installation.
Damaged furnaces don’t work as well as newer models and can become a safety hazard over time.
6. Wipe Down Blades
Do your blower blades look dusty or dirty? Wiping them down with a toothbrush or a paintbrush can help them work better and keep your indoor air a little cleaner.
Not sure how to disassemble your blades to get a deeper clean? As with all our furnace maintenance tips, reach out to a professional to get a second opinion.
7. Check Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide has no odor, color, or taste, so you can’t spot it without the help of a functioning detector. You should check your carbon monoxide detector once per month to make sure the battery and alarm are working.
Each model has a testing button that you can press to double-check it’s fully functional. If the model is over seven years old, it’s time to get a new one.
8. Test Your Furnace Before Regular Usage
Instead of turning on your furnace and going about business as usual, get into the habit of testing it first. Run it for a few minutes, smell the air, and listen for any unusual sounds like hissing or rattling. A quick test now could spare you a surprise breakdown or health hazard later.
Why Furnace Maintenance Matters in Florida
While Florida’s winters won’t snow you in, they can still have you stiff and shivering. Using our furnace maintenance tips means you’ll keep your unit in peak working condition whenever you need it.
Overlooking simple maintenance can put you at a higher risk for a surprise repair or complete breakdown at the last minute.
Regular Maintenance vs Major Repairs
Quick maintenance is much more affordable than a major repair job. While a little tune-up may involve cleaning, calibrating, or testing, a repair job may involve replacing parts.
An emergency repair job can cost even more since this issue usually stems from deeper damage. While you should never hesitate to get the service you need for a failing furnace, ongoing maintenance will go a long way for your peace of mind.
Best Practices for Winter Furnace Care in Florida
If you’re too busy to maintain your furnace or don’t feel comfortable performing certain tasks, there’s no shame in reaching out to a professional. Experienced technicians know how to inspect, clean, and tune up furnaces in compliance with state laws and building codes.
We recommend servicing your furnace once per year, even if it’s working just fine. A professional inspection can look beyond the surface for potential problems like faulty wiring, hidden leaks, or dirty ductwork. Even better, you’ll get a quick and affordable fix that will set you up for success once winter comes back around.
What’s the Best Time for a Furnace Tune-Up?
Prevent heating breakdowns with a tune-up either in spring (March or April) or fall (September or October). It’s better to get your furnace looked at during the off season so you’re ready to go once winter arrives.
Unique Services Can Help You Maintain Your Furnace
Our furnace maintenance tips are just a few ways you can keep your unit working for as long as possible. We offer furnace installation and furnace repair to help Florida homeowners keep their home as comfortable as possible. If you’re interested in a new HVAC system, we can also help you set one up.
If you need help budgeting for your Florida heating maintenance, we offer a wide variety of specials and coupons for all your furnace care needs.
Don’t wait until the middle of winter to have your furnace inspected. Call us today or schedule service online to have a professional keep your system in top shape.