Does Your Furnace Need To Be Cleaned?

Your furnace is a unit you use during many parts of the year, and you want the unit to remain in good working condition. Even if your heating unit works as it should, there still may be signs that the appliance needs to be cleaned.

Your heating appliance gathers dust, hair, and other debris because the unit filters air that it redistributes as heat into your home. As such, periodic cleaning is needed. You need to have your furnace cleaned for a few reasons. First, you don't want the unit to emit foul air into your home, which can cause upper respiratory distress. Secondly, you don't want dust and other debris inside your unit to make the heating components overheat or work harder to supply heat, which can cause a home fire or make your appliance wear out too soon.

Does your furnace need to be cleaned? Use this guide to help you determine if this type of maintenance is needed. Your appliance specialist should be the one to do all cleaning for you; attempting to maintain your heating appliance on your own can cause personal injury or make damage to your furnace worse.

Your furnace smells like it's burning

Does your furnace emit a very hot or almost burning odor when you first turn the unit on? While this may be common the first time you turn on this appliance for the season, it shouldn't be consistent every time the unit kicks on. Your furnace may be reacting to built-up dust and other debris inside its filters or working mechanisms, which can not only make your home's air smell bad, but cause a fire as well.

Your furnace hasn't been used in a long time

Do you remember the last time you used your furnace? If you travel for the winter or you don't usually use your heating appliance to warm up your home, the unit needs to be cleaned before you use it. Small animals, insects, and other unwanted things could be inside the furnace and an inspection and cleaning will make sure the unit is ready for safe use.

When you get your furnace cleaned, make sure to have the filters replaced as well. Replacing your heater's filters will allow for healthier ventilation of the furnace and better air quality. Your heating specialist will check your furnace for any signs of wear while they clean the unit to make sure it's safe for continued use. Contact a service, like Always Ready Repair, to get started.