First, the thermostat determines when the heater should come on by measuring the temperature of the air in the room. The thermostat will signal to the heater and blower to turn on. The heater uses combustion to create heat while the blower pushes the air to the heat exchanger where it is distributed through the heating ducts into the home.

By following a yearly furnace maintenance schedule, you can help each of these parts run smoothly and keep your home comfortable throughout the winter.

Visual inspection

Start by looking at your furnace. Is there any black soot around the furnace? Next, turn on the thermostat and set it above room temperature so the furnace comes on. Look at the flames in the burner. You want to see a steady, blue flame. If you see yellow or orange flicking, call Dimare’s Heating and Cooling Services to determine whether anything other than natural gas is burning. Also listen for questionable noises or vibrations while the furnace is on, and smell for any gas leaks.

Turn your furnace and gas off

After the visual inspection, turn the thermostat off and flip the power switch off on the furnace (or turn off the breaker if the furnace doesn’t have a switch). It’s very important that if you are performing any kind of Gas Furnace Maintenance that you turn off the gas line.The gas line should have shut off valve near your gas meter.

Clean and dust

Once the furnace has cooled, open the furnace door. Use a vacuum with a long nozzle to clean out and the furnace base. For areas your vacuum can’t reach, such as the fan blades, use a damp cloth to wipe away dust.

Check your fan belt

If your blower has a fan belt, inspect it for cracks or fraying. You can also check the tension by pushing down in the center of the belt. If it deflates by more than half an inch, it will need to be tightened. A One of our Gas Furnace specialists can assist you with tightening or replacing the fan belt.

Finish your maintenance and change the filter

Replace the furnace panels and turn the furnace power and gas pack on. You may need to relight the pilot light. The final item on our gas furnace maintenance checklist is to inspect and change the filter. Your filter may need to be changed as often as once a month during heating season. Be sure to check it often to keep your air clean and your family breathing easy.