Tips for Optimizing Furnace Performance

When the temperature starts dropping, your first concern is making sure your furnace comes on and provides the heat you need. But the same way you’re not content with just barely functioning through your workday, you need to pay attention to the level of performance your furnace is giving you. Optimizing your furnace reduces energy waste, keeps it running longer, and saves you money in the short and long term.

Here are five ways to optimize your furnace and reap the benefits.

Replace the filter

In addition to affecting air quality, a dirty filter forces your blower fan to work harder to push the air through, reducing its performance and costing you through higher energy consumption. Stay on top of your filter replacement to benefit your furnace as well as your family’s health.

Tune up on time

Postponing a furnace inspection and tune up is akin to avoiding the doctor for years, preventing you from discovering health issues until too late. Regular maintenance keeps your furnace running while optimizing its performance. Discuss the frequency with a professional and add it to your calendar so you don’t forget and suffer painful consequences.

Keep a clean furnace room

Your furnace needs a certain amount of clearance around it for proper performance. This goes for the furnace itself, as well as the exhaust vent. Blocking the vent or preventing enough oxygen from getting into your furnace causes increased production of carbon monoxide, a deadly consequence that goes beyond simple optimization. If you’re not sure about the clearances needed, call in a Western Heating and Air professional to review and make recommendations.

Smart controls

Your furnace runs on its own because of the controls. In the olden days, you would have to manually throttle heating equipment. Without well-functioning controls, you can end up overheating your house or freezing unnecessarily. Proper control will ensure that you get the right temperatures in your home using just the right amount of energy to do so. You can settle for the basics, but upgrading to smart controls will optimize your furnace performance even more.

Upgraded furnace

There’s only so much you can do with older equipment. If it’s close to the end of your furnace’s life, consider an upgrade to a more efficient system that will be easier to optimize for your family’s needs. You’ll reap the benefits of lower energy consumption and increased comfort.

If you need help optimizing your furnace for the best performance, give the experts at Western Heating and Air a call at (801) 224-8899.