We hope the word dire got your attention. Some of these gas furnace mistakes can indeed cause serious problems and health hazards. Others will result in a gas furnace that wastes money or can’t do the job—and these can be dire under the right circumstances. Regardless, everything we’ve listed here is something you shouldn’t be doing with your gas furnace. When you need help with a furnace, always contact the HVAC professionals who can get the job done right.
- Forgetting to change the air filter: This is the most common mistake. People too often let the filter slip from their mind, or imagine that it’s in good shape through each winter. This isn’t necessarily true, however. It only takes 1 to 3 months for the filter to clog, and this will wipe out the furnace’s energy-efficient performance and may cause it to overheat. Get into a regular schedule for furnace filter changes and stick with it.
- Skipping regular maintenance: Probably the second biggest mistake. When a furnace misses its annual fall maintenance, it will start to pose a larger safety hazard, not to mention begin to drain energy and suffer reductions in power. You can call us to arrange for this vital service.
- Heating the house when you’re gone: No, it won’t help you save money by keeping the furnace running for an empty house, no matter what non-professionals tell you. Use a programmable thermostat to set back the temperature when you’re gone, and the furnace will reward you with smaller bills and a longer lifespan.
- Blocking room vents: Moving furniture around during the winter may block room vents, and this blocks airflow. This will lead to poor heating distribution, and it can damage the ventilation system because of the spike in air pressure.
- Ignore signs of gas leaks: A CO detector goes off, you hear hissing or clicking sounds from the furnace, you notice corrosion on it… call for repairs right away!
Comfort Flow Heating is here for your furnace repair needs in Eugene, OR. Quality Service & Install Since 1961.
