Three Steps for Preparing Your Energy Efficient Furnace for Winter

November 04, 2014

If you have an energy efficient furnace, you know winter is when it’s going to start paying for itself. These innovative HVAC systems can help decrease the amount of energy or gas required to heat your home compared to older and less efficient models. With winter drawing nearer here in Pacheco, we’ve prepared some essential steps you can take to ensure your furnace will operate efficiently and effectively throughout the season.

1. Schedule a routine maintenance visit before winter weather arrives.

You don’t want to turn on your furnace on the first cold day in Pacheco only to realize it’s not running properly. It’s important to have a professional inspect your equipment, as these individuals have been trained and certified to ensure your HVAC equipment is safe and working correctly. Keeping your equipment regularly maintained will not only help the product operate smoothly, but it will help improve the energy efficiency of your furnace, as well.

2. Check your heat exchanger.

Fractured or improperly functioning heat exchangers mix combustion gases with the air in your home. This leads to safety concerns with carbon monoxide poisoning. Simply check your furnace’s combustion chamber for cracks. If you detect strange odors coming from the heater after a while, shut it off and call a professional. Your heat exchanger is an important part of creating an energy efficient furnace. When it functions properly, the equipment doesn’t have to work as hard or use as much energy to produce the heat you desire.

3. Change your air filter.

If you haven’t changed your filter in a while, now’s the time. Clean filters will help improve your system’s air flow and could lead to better energy efficiency, as well. Pleated, HEPA and electrostatic filters can also help enhance the furnace’s energy efficiency, so consider upgrading if you’re currently using a flat filter. We recommend checking your filter at the end of each month to see whether it needs to be changed.

Try these steps to create a more energy efficient home this season. Or, if you’re ready for a repair, Clean Air HVAC offers a wide range of energy efficient furnaces. We’re happy to help you find the latest and greatest HVAC systems available in Pacheco.