How to keep your furnace running safely

Now that we are coming in to the Spring Season, it might be time to see if your furnace is running at maximum operation. After all, remember this past winter when the furnace "banged" or "rumbled" or just sounded funny? Here are some things YOU can do to save money.

1. Check the draft hood. This is the metal cover above the opening in the furnace. See if there are signs of discoloration, or have remnants of soot, peeling paint, dog hair, etc.
2. Check the flue. This is the metal pipe that comes out of the furnace and goes all the way to the chimney or the vent. See if there are any signs of holes or deterioration. If there are white rings around the flue pipes that leaves a brown stain on your fingers, it might mean you have condensation building up inside.
3. Do you have a chimney? In older furnaces you usually have one, and in the newer ones there is usually a different method of venting, often times directly to the outside. If you have a chimney, be sure to check and see if there is any blockage. Do this as well with the vent on newer furnaces. Do your eyes tear or your throat burn or you sound raspy when your furnace is on? If so, you might have a problem with the venting.
4. An important thing to note – if you do have a chimney, open the clean out and check for any crumbled mortar or bricks. This is a real problem. As well, if you have a newer furnace, make sure your chimney is lined to protect it from corrosive gases. If you have a gas water heater that vents into your chimney, and you want to install a new gas furnace to vent there too, that is acceptable. But, you can’t vent oil and gas together – a BIG health hazard!
5. If you see an oil cap on your furnace, you need to keep the blower motor oiled. This is really easy to do, and the oil is cheap. By doing this, you will save money replacing the blower motor. Just lift up the cover and add a few drops of oil occasionally. Check the condition of the belt too. They are inexpensive to replace and can be bought almost anywhere.
6. Do you have water on the floor? Check for leaks around the water heater or boiler, if you have one. Check to see if there is water in the site gauge. If it is too low, the unit will not fire properly.

Well that’s it for now! Next month we’ll talk more. It’s my goal to make these fun and interesting for you. If you have any questions (and it won’t cost you a thing to ask these – imagine, asking your plumbing, heating and air-conditioning contractor a question for FREE!) drop me a line at PSGPat@aol.com  and I will answer them for you.

 Visit our other tips pages!

Air-Conditioning Tips

Vent-Free Heating Tips

Condensation Problems Tips

Who's the Best?

Focus on your Heating System Part I

Focus on your Heating System Part II

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