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3 Ways You Damage Your Furnace

An energy-efficient furnace is the best way to keep your heating costs low. However, there are many mistakes you can make that damage your new furnace, making it experience wear and tear much faster than normal. If you've noticed your heating bills are rising, but your furnace is not old, check out these three ways you may be damaging your furnace.

Forcing Zoned Heating

Zoned heating is growing in popularity because it saves energy and money. With zoned heating, you can heat certain parts of your home without heating everywhere. For example, if you rarely use your upstairs, you can turn off the heat to that zone. As a result, you use less energy to keep your living space warm. However, zoned heating only works if you have a furnace with zoned heating technology.

Some homeowners try to mimic zoned heating by closing heaving vents to rooms they are not using. However, this does not work. It puts excess stress on the furnace, which can cause more breakdowns. It also creates drafts because the warm air is sucked into the cold rooms.

Neglecting Your Ducts

You should already be checking your air ducts for gaps and holes. This is because 20 to 30 percent of the air from the furnace escapes through holes as the air travels through the ducts. As a result, you must use more energy to heat your home, which puts extra strain on the system.

Your ducts can also get dirty. As grime builds along the duct walls, they become narrow. There is less space for the heated air to travel. Again, this puts stress on the system as it is forced to push the air harder.

Keeping a Dirty Filter

It's not just the ducts you want to clean. Your furnace has a filter for a reason, but overtime, dust and other debris collects on the filter. If you don't have allergies, you may not think a dirty is a big deal, but a dirty filter doesn't just create dirty air.

A filter works by pulling the air through it. It captures irritants and lets the fresh air flow. However, as the filter becomes caked with dust, hair, etc., it becomes harder to pull the air through the filter, which means your furnace must work harder to push the air.

By caring for your furnace, you'll ensure it lasts a long time and keeps working efficiently even as it ages. If you would like more information about how you can improve your furnace, or if you think it's time for a replacement, contact a HVAC company like Ragan Mechanical Inc.


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