Hansen Super Techs | HVAC, Electrical & Plumbing Mobile AL

6 Ways to Get the Most of Your New Furnace

Oct 12, 2021 | Heating

A new furnace has the potential to be a smart investment, which can provide a number of benefits to your household and quality of life. If you take proper care of it, it can not only save you huge amounts of money in the long run, but it can also improve the living conditions of your home. That being said, getting the best results from your new furnace is not something that will just automatically happen. There are certain things you’ll need to do to take proper care of your new appliance, and we will discuss some of them here. Doing the following things consistently will require an investment of time, effort, and in some cases, money, but most homeowners find that it’s completely worth it.

1. Clean or Replace the Air Filter Regularly

Within every furnace, there’s an air filter doing its best to keep the heating system running smoothly and efficiently. The filter does this by trapping dust and debris before it can make its way further into the furnace and get clogged up. However, over time, the air filter is going to accumulate so many of these little dirt and dust particles that it will become completely packed with them. When this happens, your furnace has to exert much more effort to pull air through the clogged-up filter, and this can be damaging to the appliance. When a furnace is forced to work harder, it not only makes breakdowns or other damage more likely, but it also results in more energy being consumed.

To stay on top of it, we recommend cleaning the air filter in your furnace at least once a month. Sometimes, if you’ve been using the same filter for long enough, it’s going to be too dirty to be worth trying to clean, and in this case, you will need to purchase a replacement filter instead.

2. Clean Out Your Air Vents

A big part of your furnace’s job is circulating warm air throughout your home and dispersing it into different areas of the house. It’s able to do this by utilizing the little air vents that are likely spread all over your household. However, just like the aforementioned air filter, things like dust and debris can accumulate within these air vents, making it harder for your furnace to push air through them. Every now and then, you’ll want to visit each of your vents and use a screwdriver to remove the cover panels, and you should use a vacuum cleaner’s extension hose to clean them all out thoroughly. To make things simpler, we recommend scheduling a cleaning day once a month and systematically cleaning all of the different places that affect your HVAC systems.

3. Schedule Regular Maintenance

A furnace has many working parts inside of it, and all it takes is one of them malfunctioning or wearing out to cause some serious problems for your household. Furnace repair costs can be pricey, and replacing the appliance is entirely even more so. However, if you make the point to regularly have a trained professional come out for a furnace tune-up, you can not only nip most of these problems in the bud before they materialize but also ensure that your furnace is running as efficiently as possible. If you’re in Mobile, AL, or anywhere in the surrounding area, we at Hansen Heating & Air have trained experts that can take care of these regular furnace tune-ups in a timely and affordable manner.

4. Invest in a Humidifier

Have you ever noticed that the air often feels like it’s very dry during the winter months? What you may not be aware of is that dry air in the home actually makes it feel like it’s significantly colder than it truly is. This is where a humidifier can make a big difference for your home. By raising the level of moisture in your home’s air, it allows for heat to be transferred around the house more effectively. As a result, you will feel much warmer and cozier in your home but without having to rely so much on cranking up the thermostat. Over time, having a humidifier will help your furnace have a longer lifespan, and there’s a good chance it will eventually pay for itself with the money you will save on heating bills.

5. Seal Up Any Leaks

There are a lot of places in the average household with the potential for air leaks to occur. Usually, the most common spots are around windows, doorways, and garage doors. These leaks, even when they seem very small, allow cold air to seep into your house and warm air to escape. Unfortunately, when your home is losing heat like this, it’s your furnace that is forced to compensate for it, using up extra energy and taking on more wear and tear in the process. To combat this occurrence, we recommend regularly checking all windows and doors in your household for even the smallest leaks or cracks. If you discover anything, it’s important for it to get sealed up whether you do it yourself or bring in professional help.

6. Turn Down the Thermostat

Obviously, you will need to have your thermostat turned up a good portion of the time. Otherwise, what would be the point in investing in a new furnace? However, every time you’re able to lower the temperature a bit, even for a few hours, it makes it a little bit easier for your furnace to work properly. As a starting point, when the sun is shining, make a point to open up your curtains and let the natural light shine in and warm up your home. With this natural heat coming in, you can turn your thermostat down a bit. Additionally, many people choose to lower their thermostats a bit when they go to bed at night. You shouldn’t need too much extra heat when you’re under the covers, and by lowering the temperature by seven to 10 degrees each night for eight hours, you can potentially save up to 10% on your yearly heating costs.

As you can tell, a furnace is really only a wise investment if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort to take proper care of it. At Hansen Heating & Air, we have the tools and staff to provide any assistance you need in keeping your furnace running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. We have been serving residents and businesses in the greater Mobile area since 2006, and we’re proud to offer our customers 24/7 emergency service as well as financing on approved credit. Our goal is to provide you with fast, friendly, and affordable service. When the spring and summer months come back around, keep in mind that we also offer a variety of cooling services, including installation, maintenance, and repairs for air conditioning systems.

Don’t hesitate to start being the most responsible furnace owner that you can be. Give us a call at Hansen Heating & Air today, and get your appointment scheduled for one of our experts to give your new furnace a tune-up. We’re proud to serve all of Mobile, Baldwin County, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast!