How to Clean Your Furnace
Here in New Jersey, heating equipment is necessary for home comfort during a significant portion of the year. And we still have several weeks left of cold weather!
Now that it’s been a few months since a technician came by to perform preventative maintenance, you should follow up by cleaning the furnace yourself. Here’s how.
How to Clean Furnace Components
Before you begin, set the thermostat to the “off” position for safety. As an added precaution, you can also flip the circuit breaker that powers the thermostat. Then, clean the following parts of your furnace between professional maintenance visits:
- Exterior: Check around the outside of the furnace to make sure no cardboard boxes, trash, or other items are stacked too closely, which could create a fire hazard. Then, look for cobwebs and dust on the outside of the furnace. Run an electrostatic duster along all easily accessible exterior parts. The primary purpose of this step is to prevent a burning odor when you turn on your furnace after a long dormancy period.
- Interior: Open the furnace panel to access the interior. If it’s been a while since you cleaned in here, you’ll probably notice that dust has settled on just about every surface. Using a vacuum with the crevice attachment, clean every spot you can reach. Be careful not to make direct contact with any electronic components, or you could bend them out of shape and possibly render your furnace non-functional.
- Filter: Locate the furnace filter, which should be installed close to the return side of the furnace. Remove it from its slot and check whether it’s dirty. If so, replace it (or wash it if you have a reusable filter). Wait no longer than three months between changing or cleaning the filter to prevent obstructing airflow through the system.
Heating Maintenance Services in Central Jersey
Even though you now know how to clean furnace components, it’s still a good idea to schedule furnace maintenance once a year. A professional inspection is about more than just cleaning the equipment and changing the filter—it’s also about testing airflow, lubricating moving parts, monitoring exhaust fumes, and ensuring safe and efficient operation.
To get the most out of your furnace for the remainder of winter, please contact Arctic Air Conditioning to clean and maintain your furnace. We have over 35 years of experience serving Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, and Ocean counties in New Jersey.
