Smite The Dust Bunnies And Save Your Furnace

Posted by Arthur Reid on May 7, 2014 in Blog, Construction & Contractors | 0 comments

Just imagine—it’s a cold and rainy day, and all you want to do is get to your toasty warm house. Only, your furnace stopped working, and you are without any heat.

What happened? Did the motor shut down? Was it some other terrible problem that shut down your heater?

Yes and no.

It was dirt. 

How can a little bit of dust bring down something as complex as a furnace? A speck of dirt may not seem so terrible, but those specks add up quickly. Dirt is the miniscule enemy to any heating or cooling system. A dirty furnace will not function as effectively or efficiently, which quickly amounts to growing discomfort and a rising energy bill.

Don’t worry though, there’s a solution. You need to clean each part of the furnace—the filter system, the blower, and the motor—to ensure that the whole unit functions properly.

Get Your White Glove Ready

The first step in cleaning your furnace is to clean the filter. Since the filter is the part of the furnace that collects all the dirt and dust, a dirty filter can be especially damaging. If you hold the furnace filter in the light and you cannot see through it anywhere, then it’s time for a new filter. It’s possible that your furnace has a permanent filter, which will need to be cleaned and reinserted. You should be able to find the cleaning products you need at a local hardware store.

It’s good practice to get in the habit of replacing your furnace’s filter at the beginning of the cold weather season, and then check it (and replace if need be) every month that you are using your furnace.

Replacing the Filter:

1. The filter is housed inside a metal panel at the front of the furnace—locate this area.  It may have a sticker indicating “Filter.”

2. Remove the panel from the furnace. It might be hooked onto the furnace or attached with screws.

3. Remove the filter and inspect it. If dirty, then replace the filter.

You will also need to clean the furnace blower before you re-attach the panel onto the furnace.

Cleaning the Blower:

1. Slide the fan unit out of the furnace.

2. Use a toothbrush to clean the fan blades.

3. Use a vacuum cleaner (with attachments) to remove loosened debris, and to clean the belts and pulleys.

4. Wipe down the motor to remove dust build-up.

Remember to reassemble everything just the way you found it. If you feel things are getting out of hand, then don’t be afraid to call a professional such as Manwill Heating & Air. They’ll be more than happy to handle your furnace maintenance for you.