{"id":24476,"date":"2021-09-28T19:57:59","date_gmt":"2021-09-28T19:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluenationalhvac.com\/?page_id=24476"},"modified":"2021-11-16T19:32:24","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T19:32:24","slug":"how-to-clean-a-gas-furnace","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bluenationalhvac.com\/furnace\/how-to-clean-a-gas-furnace\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean a Gas Furnace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why Should You Clean And Maintain Your Gas Furnace?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cleaning and maintaining your gas furnace<\/a> is essential to keeping it efficient and optimizing its lifespan. Dirt, dust, and other contaminants can inhibit the furnace\u2019s performance and wear down components faster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top reasons a clean furnace is important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efficiency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a furnace is dirty, its efficiency is negatively impacted, even high-efficiency units. If the efficiency lowers, it will have to run for extended periods or at higher settings to heat your home. On the other hand, it would warm your home and use much less natural gas if it were clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Efficiency can be impacted by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • A reduction in airflow from clogged filters<\/li>
  • Dirty ductwork<\/li>
  • A blower weighed down with dirt<\/li>
  • Dirty flame sensors<\/li>
  • Or a buildup of contaminants on the burner and heat exchanger. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Reduce Energy Bills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    When gas furnace efficiency decreases, it burns more natural gas to provide the same amount of heat as a clean unit. Therefore, cleaning and maintaining your gas furnace will ensure it burns less natural gas or propane, which in turn will reduce your energy bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Increase Equipment Lifespan <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As you know by now, a dirty gas furnace is an inefficient one. However, inefficiency does not just increase your energy cost; it also wears down the furnace components much quicker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As such, a furnace that is perpetually dirty and not maintained well will have a much shorter service life than a clean, well-maintained one. Additionally, it will have more frequent and more expensive repairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Can You Tell When Your Gas Furnace Needs Cleaning?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You may be wondering when to clean your gas furnace. Are there specific signs indicating a gas furnace needs to be cleaned? Or should cleaning be completed at a certain time of year? The answer is a little bit of both.

    Here\u2019s how to determine when to clean your gas furnace: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cold Weather is Approaching <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    A good rule of thumb to follow is to clean your furnace before you need it the most. In most parts of the U.S., furnaces should be cleaned around September or October in the Fall, before the heating season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the same time, routine maintenance can ensure your furnace is running efficiently when it turns on during the first cold day of the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It Looks Dirty<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Instead of making things more complex than necessary, keep things simple. Clean components of your furnace if they look dirty. You can routinely (monthly) inspect the filter, combustion chamber, heat exchanger, blower, and other major components for a buildup of dust, dirt, and other grime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


    If they\u2019re dirty, clean them (we\u2019ll tell you how shortly). However, be careful cleaning any interior components, and be sure to cut the power first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Increase Energy Bill<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Since dirty furnaces lose efficiency, they burn more gas to heat our home than a clean unit. Therefore, homeowners will notice a consistent uptick in their energy bills as the furnace becomes more saturated with dirt and less efficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To optimize your gas bill, keep your furnace running efficiently by performing routine maintenance and cleaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Inadequate Cooling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the furnace is dirty, it will not be able to heat your home as well. For example, the airflow may be restricted by a clogged air filter, dirty ductwork, or blocked supply vents, which could prevent warm air from being distributed throughout your home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additionally, if the blower motor is saturated in dirt and dust, the weight could impact its ability to spin and move hot air. A dirty flame sensor could lead to incorrect temperature control within the burner, leading to insufficient heating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    DIY: How To Clean A Gas Furnace Step By Step<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Cleaning a furnace may seem like a daunting task, especially if you\u2019re inexperienced with the major components. Thankfully, this step-by-step guide below will walk you through the process. However, if you need assistance with cleaning your furnace, give our team of HVAC experts a call today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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