Keeping Your Gas Furnace Running Safely and Efficiently

In our last post, we discussed the pilot light of your gas furnace, and what to do if it goes out. This week, we’ll take a step back and look at how to make sure you’re getting the most out of your gas furnace, and how to keep it running safely in your home.

Today’s gas furnaces have a ton of safeguards, but you still need to take some care to avoid safety and performance issues. Here are five ways you can do to keep your gas furnace working safely and efficiently.

  1. Schedule annual routine maintenance. We probably sound like a broken record, but we just can’t emphasize enough how important it is to maintain your home comfort equipment properly. A minimal investment in an annual service plan helps your equipment running better for longer, and helps prevent many expensive repairs.
  2. Change filters regularly. Dust and dirt are the natural enemy of your gas furnace, so it’s best to change your filters regularly – about once a month during heating season. If you don’t know how to change the filter in your home heating system, ask us.
  3. Install carbon monoxide detectors. Properly maintained gas furnaces exhaust a harmless amount of carbon monoxide (CO) through the roof vent. But a poorly maintained or malfunctioning furnace could cause a dangerous buildup of CO in your home. CO detectors are a cost-effective way to warn you if a buildup is underway. At minimum, have them in all your bedrooms.
  4. Store flammable liquids properly. Fumes from paint thinner and other volatile liquids can cause a fire hazard if they’re near the open flame of your pilot light. Store all volatile liquids safely in an area away from your gas furnace.
  5. Keep the surface of your furnace dust- and dirt-free. Do what you can to keep your furnace clean – and never operate it with the front panel door removed.

Routine maintenance is the key to safely operating your gas furnace – if you haven’t had your annual heating system tune-up, contact Carroll today for an appointment!

For everything you need in home heating, trust the pros at Carroll Home Services – keeping Maryland homes warm for more than a century! Contact us to get started today!