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Debunking 4 Common Myths About Home Furnace Maintenance

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Fresh snowfalls, warm mugs of hot chocolate, and cozy socks are certainly some of the best things about winter. However, the truly best thing about winter is having a functioning furnace in your home to keep you and your loved ones safe and comfortable. Unfortunately, if you're falling for any of these furnace-maintenance myths, you could be setting your home's heating system up for failure.

Myth #1: A Pilot Light Should Be Yellow

If you have a gas furnace in your home, then it is important that the pilot light remains lit at all times. This small flame provides the ignition needed for the main burner to operate each time your furnace kicks on. What many homeowners don't realize, however, is that the color of the pilot light matters. A "healthy" pilot light flame should be mostly blue, though some may have a small amount of yellow at the tip. 

If a pilot light flame is mostly yellow, this could actually indicate that the pilot is not putting off enough to heat for the furnace to run properly. Does your pilot light put off a yellow flame? If so, it may be time to call your local heat repair services for an assessment.

Myth #2: Closing Vents Will Save on Wear and Tear

Closing off vents in unused rooms in your home will prevent your furnace from working as hard to heat your home, right? Not necessarily. Your home's heating system is designed to operate at peak efficiency with all vents in your home open at all times. Closing off vents will not cause your furnace to work any less and could actually result in higher energy bills, so keep them open.

Myth #3: A Dirty Air Filter Won't Affect Performance

Believe it or not, a dirty furnace air filter can affect more than your indoor air quality. A clogged filter can prevent air from passing through freely, which can make your furnace work even harder to heat your home. Ideally, you should be swapping out your furnace air filter with a new one at least once every 90 days.

Myth #4: Furnace Tune-Ups Are a Waste of Money

An annual furnace inspection and tune-up will cost you some money up-front, but these service appointments can save you money in the long run by identifying signs of problems so you can address them sooner. These tune-ups can also help improve the efficiency and performance of your furnace, potentially extending its service life and saving you money on premature replacement.

Don't fall for these common furnace-maintenance myths! Make sure to stay on top of caring for your home heating system. And if you haven't done so already, schedule your annual furnace inspection with a trusted HVAC professional today.

For more information, reach out to heat repair services in your area.


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