Regular furnace maintenance is important for your Hope Mills, North Carolina, home. While there are a few tasks that you can do yourself, most of your heater maintenance jobs are best left to an experienced and licensed professional. Learn which jobs you can do yourself and which tasks you should hire a contractor for.
Filter Changes
Filter changes are one of the few things that you can safely do yourself in regard to furnace maintenance. Simply check the size of your existing filter and purchase a replacement that fits the same dimensions. If you’d like to enhance your air quality, you may consider upgrading to a filter with a higher MERV rating. A rating up to 12 can give you outstanding protection from dust, fumes, and allergens. Filters with a higher rating may clean the air more thoroughly, but filters with a MERV rating of 13 or higher are generally used only for commercial applications and will not work efficiently in your home.
Furnace Cleaning
A clean furnace leads to better operational efficiency and improved indoor air quality. There are a few simple things you can do yourself to keep your furnace clean. Make sure there is no debris around the exterior unit such as leaves, twigs, or lawn trimmings. Keep grass trimmed or lay mulch or gravel for two feet in all directions around the unit.
For internal cleaning, you should turn to the pros. During a routine tune-up, our technicians will thoroughly clean the inside of your furnace, clearing dust and allergens from the blower housing and other components.
Annual Maintenance Tasks
The majority of your furnace maintenance should be left to a professional HVAC technician. A thorough seasonal maintenance visit will include several important jobs such as tightening electrical connections, inspecting furnace elements, lubricating moving parts, and testing thermostat function. Schedule your maintenance visit in early autumn before you start regularly using your furnace.
If you’re due for annual furnace maintenance, give Cape Fear Air, Electric, & Plumbing a call at (919) 879-2033 to schedule your appointment.
Image provided by Shutterstock
