Many of the essential aspects of a home are ignored until something goes wrong with them. This is definitely true of furnaces in Portland. Typically, they are expected to run without trouble and only a bit of maintenance like changing the filter. Even so, it can be worth it to pay a bit more attention to that machine in the basement or utility room. Here are some things that should be done or considered on a regular basis:
Home Maintenance
Furnaces have air filters that need to be regularly cleaned or changed. This should be done monthly during the heating season and every few months during the off-season. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a filter you put in last spring will still be good in the fall. Most furnaces run occasionally during cold snaps in the summer, so the filter will usually be dirty by the time the winter season rolls around. Popping in a new one in the fall ensures that furnaces in Portland will be ready to go.
Professional Maintenance
Unlike furnaces from 50 years ago, today’s machines will work much better with a yearly tune-up. Such a tune-up involves things like cleaning the burners and related parts, oiling any unsealed moving parts, and similar work. Having this done maintains the machine’s efficiency. In turn, that keeps your fuel bills as low as possible and ensures that the heating in your home will be even and comfortable.
Another benefit of professional maintenance is that it gives a technician a chance to get a good look at your furnace. If he spots any emerging problems, you can get them fixed before they leave you shivering by surprise in the middle of the night.
Comparison with New Furnaces
Even with proper maintenance, an old furnace will eventually be obsolete compared to a new one. A 20-year-old furnace’s peak efficiency is less than that of a new unit because of improvements in the base technology. It’s a good idea to keep tabs on these improvements. Checking out the latest furnaces in Portland every five years or so will allow you to see when it becomes worth it to switch to a new furnace to take advantage of its better efficiency. Visit Oregon Heating for more information
