Most homeowners maintain a strict schedule in the upkeep of their property, ensuring the façade is clean and the landscape stays nice and trimmed. However, given the many components of the home, it’s easy to forget areas that aren’t immediately visible, such as the furnace.
A furnace must be part of a maintenance routine to ensure it is clean and in good condition, especially before harsh Calgary winter sets in and chills your home. Here’s what you need to know about furnace cleaning and why it is crucial to clean and maintain it regularly:
What Happens When You Don’t Clean Your Furnace?
Your furnace’s primary role is to heat your home, keeping you warm and comfortable during frigid weather. However, it ends up attracting irritating substances like dust, dirt, and other kinds of debris in the process. When your furnace isn’t clean, it may end up distributing the debris it accumulated around your home, leading to various health problems. For example, you may find yourself fighting a cold more often due to all the pollutants circulating in your home.
Suppose you have people with respiratory problems in your household. In that case, they are more susceptible to falling ill due to a dirty furnace, as the particulate matter it distributes can inflame the lungs further. Generally, an unclean furnace also decreases indoor air quality while performing sub-optimally, which means that it may not heat your home as efficiently as it did in the past.
When Should You Clean Your Furnace?
The good news about furnace cleaning and maintenance is that it doesn’t have to be done as frequently as other appliances or features in your home. The best time to clean your furnace is before and after winter when you’re most likely to use it day in and out.
It is crucial to clean your furnace before winter arrives to clear it of dirt, dander, and other harmful substances that may have accumulated over several months. It’s best to call in professional furnace maintenance to do this, as they can identify problems before they worsen and recommend ways to keep your furnace in excellent condition.
What are the Signs Your Furnace Needs to Be Cleaned?
Still, it’s important to note that you may need an extra furnace cleaning despite maintaining a regular schedule, especially when specific issues pop up. For starters, if you have just moved, you’ll want to have a cleaner inspect your AC units or furnace, which home inspectors often neglect. Be sure to clean the furnace right when you move, as you wouldn’t know how careful the previous tenant was about maintaining their furnace.
If you’ve noticed that the airflow has begun to feel strange, like some areas in your home aren’t heating as quickly or maintain their warmth, that may be a sign your furnace needs more cleaning. The airflow may be blocked by dust and dirt, so clearing it should resolve the problem right away.
Moisture should never be present in any heating system, so if you spot water in your ducts, you’ll need to have your furnace cleaned immediately. Leaving water in dark, warm places quickly leads to mould growth, which can cause numerous health problems.
On the other hand, if your furnace is behaving oddly, it may require repairs. These behaviours include water accumulating around it, the smell of gas or something strange whenever you use your furnace, noises when it runs, a malfunctioning thermostat, or high heating bills.
Conclusion
If you notice anything strange with your furnace, you’ll want to call a professional to inspect and clean it right away. By maintaining and cleaning your furnace regularly, you’ll enjoy high indoor air quality and a comfortably warm home.
Canada Unified Services offers various home services like carpet cleaning, water damage restoration, duct cleaning, and furnace maintenance in Cochrane. We provide services at the best prices with no contracts or hidden fees. Contact us for a free estimate!