Summer Preparations For Your Furnace
Spring is finally here and furnaces can soon be shut down for the summer. Do you know how to prepare your furnace for months of non-use? Below, you will learn what steps should be taken to ensure your furnace is remains in good condition until you need to restart it after summer comes to an end.
You will only need a few basic things to perform this task:
- New furnace filter
- Screwdriver
- WD-40
- Shop vacuum with brush and crevice attachments
Replace the Dirty Filter
Remove the old filter and toss it in the trash. Use the crevice tool on your shop vacuum to suck all of the dirt, dust and debris out of the filter slot. After you get it clean, insert the new filter.
Shut off the Gas
If you have a gas-powered furnace, turn off the gas to the unit. This is done for safety reasons. Older furnaces aren't equipped with auto-shut-off mechanisms that stop the flow of gas when the pilot light goes out. It is best just to shut the gas off to the unit to prevent accidental gas leaks and to reduce gas consumption that that small pilot light would use.
Clean the Fan
Cleaning the fan requires the removal of the front cover of your furnace. In some cases, this means removing a few screws, while other times, you will simply use a latch system to open up the system.
Once you have the furnace open, locate the fan, attach the brush attachment to the shop vacuum and carefully suck all of the dust, dirt and cobwebs off of the fan and the surrounding areas. This will help to keep the fan mechanism working properly and prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the blades if it is used to circulate cool air from the air conditioning system.
Lubricate the Fan
Lubricating the moving elements of the fan will help to keep it running well without seizing. It will also help to reduce the chances of corrosion throughout the summer. Simply spray the WD40 on all of the moving mechanisms of the fan system.
Preparing your furnace for a summer of non-use is fairly easy. You are basically just getting rid of all of the winter dirt to prevent extra strain on the system and make your winter preparations a little easier. If you aren't comfortable completing this task on your own, talk with your local HVAC technician like Always On Call Mountain Mechanical for assistance.