Maintaining Your Aging Furnace: Essential Tips for Chicago Winters
Is your furnace ready to handle another tough Chicago winter? Furnace maintenance is key to keeping your home warm and your heating system running efficiently. Over time, older furnaces can lose performance, leading to higher energy bills and unexpected breakdowns. Here are a few aging furnace maintenance tips for Chicago winters to keep your home toasty and your heating system in top shape.
Signs Your Furnace Needs Extra Care
As furnaces get older, they often lose efficiency and struggle to keep up with your home’s heating needs, especially during brutal Chicago winters. This is even more common in older homes, where heating systems may be outdated or less efficient.
Signs of an aging furnace include:
- Rising energy bills: If your energy costs are climbing, it’s a sign that your furnace is working harder than it should to keep your home warm.
- Slow heating: When it takes longer than usual to heat your home, your furnace may lose efficiency.
- Insufficient heating: If certain rooms stay chilly no matter how high you set the thermostat, your furnace may not distribute heat evenly.
- Strange noises: Banging, rattling, or squealing sounds from your furnace often indicate a mechanical issue needing attention.
- Frequent cycling: If your furnace turns on and off more frequently than normal, it could be struggling to maintain the desired temperature.
Routine Maintenance Tips for an Aging Furnace
Furnaces provide energy-efficient heating with proper upkeep. As a homeowner, there are steps you can take to help maintain your furnace between routine checkups.
A few furnace efficiency tips for winter include:
- Change the air filter regularly: A clean filter improves airflow and helps your furnace run efficiently.
- Keep vents and registers clear: Make sure furniture, curtains, or debris aren’t blocking airflow.
- Inspect and clean around the furnace: Keep the area around your furnace clean and free of dust or clutter.
- Check your thermostat settings: Ensure your thermostat is working properly and set to an efficient temperature.
- Schedule regular professional tune-ups: Annual inspections can catch small problems before they turn into costly repairs.
Safety Tips for Older Furnaces During Winter
Older furnaces can sometimes raise safety concerns, especially when they’re running hard during the cold winter months. The good news is that staying proactive can help you avoid issues and keep your home cozy and safe.
Recommended furnace safety tips include:
- Check for carbon monoxide leaks: Older furnaces are more prone to cracks in the heat exchanger, which can release dangerous carbon monoxide. Install carbon monoxide detectors and test them regularly.
- Inspect the pilot light: A yellow or flickering pilot light could indicate improper combustion or a gas leak. If you notice this, contact a professional immediately.
- Check for gas odors: If you smell gas, leave your home immediately and contact your utility company or a professional for help.
- Clean and replace filters: Dirty filters can cause overheating, which may lead to a safety hazard. Replace them regularly.
- Winterize your furnace: Ensure your furnace is ready for the season by having it inspected, cleaned, and tuned up before the cold sets in. This helps prevent breakdowns and keeps it running efficiently through the winter months.
- Know when to replace an old furnace: If your furnace is over 15 to 20 years old, requires frequent repairs, or is no longer efficiently heating your home, it may be time for a replacement.
Schedule Professional Furnace Maintenance With American Vintage Home
Keep your furnace running smoothly this winter with professional furnace maintenance from American Vintage Home. As The Older Home Experts, we specialize in servicing vintage properties and ensuring your furnace is in top shape to handle the cold. Our team provides reliable and efficient heating services throughout the season, including free, no-obligation estimates on furnace installations, and 24/7 emergency heating repairs to keep your home warm and comfortable, no matter what.
Make maintenance easy with our Home Service Plans, offering 50-point HVAC inspections and scheduling reminders to keep your system running smoothly year-round.
Stay warm and worry-free this winter! Schedule furnace maintenance with American Vintage Home, the Older Home Experts in the Chicago area.
