October 22nd, 2007

Is Your Furnace Ready For Winter?

Posted by Jason Pelletier, Low Impact Living

As cold weather approaches, we’re going to start helping you understand how to prepare your home and yard for the winter season.

To start, we’ll cover a couple of relatively easy tips to make sure your furnace is operating in tip top shape. Two simple projects, replacing or cleaning your furnace filter and having your furnace maintained by professionals, can shave 20% from your heating bills this winter. This is no small savings - if you heat with natural gas, you can save $300 or more this winter and keep two tons of carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere. If you heat with oil, the savings are even greater - $400 or more and 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide.

Inspect and Replace That Dirty Filter

So, first things first - your furnace filter has been sitting in place all summer and perhaps getting used if you have a central air conditioner, so take it out and inspect it. In general, furnace filters should be replaced at least every three months if not more often during the heating / cooling seasons. If your filter is located in the furnace unit itself, make sure you shut off the power at your circuit breaker before doing anything for safety reasons. The filter should be relatively clean and free of dust and debris.

If it isn’t, then it’s time for a new one.  Make sure you measure the filter before you go to the store or buy one online.  They come in many different sizes that can be confusing if you aren’t completely sure. Look for pleated filters that have a MERV rating (a measure of filter efficiency) of eight or higher. They may be more expensive, but they’ll more than pay for themselves through less wear and tear on your furnace and through healthier air and less sickness / allergies for your family. We have used and can recommend Filtrete filters from 3M and EZ-Pleat filters from Filterra. When you replace the filter, make sure that the arrows on the filter point in the direction of air flow.

If you go this route, make sure you keep up with your filters and stick to your monthly inspections. These high-efficiency filters work very well when clean, but if they get plugged they block airflow and your heating bills may rise as a result! 

If you happen to have a reusable filter, clean it every month or so. Make sure it is completely dry before you put it back in. Otherwise it can lead to mold in your ductwork - a very unpleasant situation!

Furnace Maintenance - A Job For a Pro 

It also pays to have your furnace maintained, especially if you haven’t done it in awhile. This is usually a professional job, as the wrong moves can be dangerous to you and can damage your furnace. A heating professional will check for many common problems, from making sure your furnace ignites properly to checking the seals where your furnace is attached to ductwork to inspecting the blower compartment for debris. He/she will also clean the burners and possibly lubricate the bearings in the blower motor. Last, they will make sure your furnace is burning cleanly by monitoring the levels of carbon monoxide. To find local HVAC contractors in your area, click here. The DIY Network has a good step-by-step description of the process.

All told, the furnace inspection and cleaning will probably set you back about $100 - $200, depending on where you live and the complexity of your system. This may sound steep, but you’ll generally earn this money back in better performance within the year. And, you can sleep comfortably on those cold winter nights knowing that your system is safe, healthy, and contributing less to global warming!