How to Perform Maintenance on Furnaces

Annual furnace maintenance helps reduce heating utility bills by as much as 10 percent, according to the University of Missouri Extension. The best time to conduct the annual service is before the outdoor temperatures begin to drop in late autumn. Homeowners can perform a number of maintenance tasks to keep the unit operating efficiently. Other maintenance tasks must be left to the certified professional, as special equipment is required and not necessarily available to the typical homeowner.

• 1

  Attach the brush to the end of the vacuum cleaner hose. Clean all heating registers within the home and the air intake for the furnace. Run the brush around the thermostat base to remove any residing dust.

• 2

  Gain access to the air-intake furnace filter. Remove the old filter and dispose. Clean the interior of the filter housing and the inside of the filter grille with the vacuum cleaner.

• 3

  Replace the filter with a new one every two months during furnace operation. Households with heavy activity, children and pets, may want to replace the filter on a monthly basis for clean operation of the blower unit.

• 4

  Inspect the joints of all furnace ductwork for loose-fitting ducts and broken seals. Apply a layer of duct tape over duct joints to keep the warm air inside the ductwork.

• 5

  Examine the exhaust flue for broken or corroded piping.