Does a Gas Furnace Need to be Cleaned?

Gas furnaces are very reliable and often need less maintenance than other types of furnaces. You will find that most newer homes have been upgraded to this model of furnace and you might not be sure how to care for this item if you have never had access to a gas furnace in the past. The same rule of thumb for care and maintenance applies to these furnaces but there are some slight differences in the ideal ways to care for them.

You should always make sure that you schedule annual maintenance for your gas furnace and you should be willing to take care of repairs and replacements that are needed promptly. Being without heat when it is very cold can be miserable and you should avoid this at all costs.

Does a Gas Furnace Need to be Cleaned?

A gas furnace needs to have the filters cleaned every two to three months and the whole furnace should be cleaned at least once a year. The warmer months are a great time for the full cleaning since you will probably not be using your furnace at this time. You do not want to wait until the cold weather to take care of the full cleaning.

Making sure that your filters are cleaned and fresh can help the annual maintenance visit be much easier and you will get better performance from the furnace if you stay on top of the filter changes. Filter changes make a big difference in the performance of any furnace and the quality of the air in your home will be much better if you keep the filters up to date and fresh.

How do I Know That My Furnace Needs to be Cleaned?

If you have been finding that your furnace is not heating rooms fully or if it is turning on and off frequently, these can be signs that the furnace needs to be cleaned. If you have gone longer than a year between full cleanings, you can assume that it is time to take care of this maintenance need.

If the thermostat is not responding or your home is not getting up to temperature despite turning the thermostat up, you should also consider this a warning sign of problems with your furnace. Being able to clean your furnace annually will prevent some of these problems before they lead to failures or reduced heat getting into your home.