Furnace Maintenance for Better Indoor Air Quality
Through proper furnace maintenance, you can improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) and support your family’s health. A well-maintained heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system filters out harmful particles. As a result, you can avoid common IAQ issues by carrying out routine maintenance.
How Your Furnace Affects Indoor Air Quality
Once your furnace warms up the air, it is transferred to the rest of your home through a network of ducts. This means that any pollutants inside your furnace or ductwork can end up in the air you breathe. If your furnace is badly maintained and dirty, all of that dust and dirt will eventually make its way into your family’s lungs.
The Role of Air Filters in Indoor Air Quality
Normally, air is brought into your HVAC system and passed through a filter. This furnace filter removes common contaminants. Depending on its minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV), the filter’s efficacy can vary. While the highest MERV ratings can trap bacteria, allergens, and smoke, lower ratings may only filter out dust and large particles.
It’s important to note that picking a higher MERV rating isn’t always the best choice. Furnaces have to work harder to push air through filters that have high ratings. Because of this, you should check with your HVAC technician to see which rating is designed for your home’s HVAC system.
If you have a clogged furnace filter, it can block your home’s airflow. Besides making your furnace work harder, this can also lead to contaminants getting into your system. If your filter needs to be replaced, you may notice weak airflow, overheating, unusual noises, and higher energy bills.
How Dirty Furnaces Contribute to Poor Air Quality
The dust on your air filter doesn’t just stay inside the filter. Instead, it gets blown into your HVAC system and ends up in your home. The lack of airflow can also increase the likelihood of mold growth and moisture buildup.
Furnace Maintenance Tasks That Improve Indoor Air Quality
Fortunately, there are a few proactive steps you can take to improve your home’s air quality and prevent furnace dust problems. In addition to scheduling a professional furnace inspection every fall, you should also perform the following maintenance activities.
- Inspect the Air Filter: Periodically, you should inspect your furnace filter for signs of dust buildup. While each manufacturer is different, it should generally be replaced every 30 to 90 days. If you are using your HVAC system more intensely, the filter must be replaced more frequently.
- Check the Blower Motor: To maximize your furnace performance, you need to have a fully functional blower motor and fan.
- Look at Internal Components: Visually inspect internal components for signs of wear or dust. You should leave this task to the experts if you cannot see the internal components without opening up the cabinet or panel.
- Inspect the Vents: Check the vents and return air pathways for obstructions. You should also verify that they are open because sometimes family members will close vents and forget to reopen them.
Furnace Maintenance and Allergen Control
When you maintain your furnace, you can reduce dust, pet dander, and pollen inside your home. In turn, this helps allergy and asthma sufferers avoid sudden attacks. In addition to furnace maintenance, you can invest in other types of IAQ equipment for purifying the air.
Carbon Monoxide Safety and Your Home’s Air Quality
If your furnace runs on natural gas, routine maintenance is especially important. A dirty filter can lead to overheating, which can cause a cracked heat exchanger. If this happens, carbon monoxide can leak into your home. To avoid this problem, it’s essential to set up proper venting and schedule routine heat exchanger inspections.
Signs Your Furnace Is Negatively Impacting Your Indoor Air Quality
From respiratory issues to furnace airflow problems, there are a few common signs that furnace issues are harming your IAQ.
- Excess dust in your home
- Poor airflow
- Worse allergies
- Musty smells
- Burning odors
- Uneven heating
How Often Should Furnace Maintenance Be Performed?
In general, we recommend getting furnaces maintained at least once per year. If you opt for a fall tune-up, you can be confident your furnace is in working order before winter arrives.
How Furnace Maintenance Supports Your Indoor Air Quality Solutions
When you schedule a tune-up or carry out a furnace filter replacement, you’re preventing dust from getting into your HVAC system. In turn, this helps your ducts, vents, and home stay cleaner. If these measures aren’t enough, you may want to invest in additional IAQ solutions. Air purifiers, filters, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and similar options can improve your indoor comfort.
The Most Frequent Indoor Air Quality Mistakes Homeowners Make
Whether you’re struggling with a dusty home or a furnace cycling on and off, routine maintenance can support your home’s air quality and your furnace’s performance. To achieve the best results, there are a few common mistakes you should watch out for.
- Forgetting to change the filter
- Not scheduling your annual tune-up
- Using the wrong filter
- Shutting vents or restricting airflow in other ways
Why Professional Furnace Maintenance Makes a Lasting Difference
With the help of routine maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs and fix problems before they spiral out of control. Our team can quickly diagnose the underlying cause during our routine inspection. Then, we can help you address any hidden problems. Through the right support, your loved ones can enjoy better peace of mind.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating
If you want to avoid unexpected breakdowns and costly repairs, furnace maintenance is essential. More importantly, consistent care can significantly improve your home’s air quality. To learn more, give our Lakeland-based team a call today.
We’re on time, or you don’t pay a dime!