5 Tips for Making Your Furnace Last Longer in Cathedral City, CA

The average lifespan of a furnace in Cathedral City, CA, is approximately 20 to 30 years. Of courses, there are furnaces that last shorter than 20 years, and others that last as long as 40 years. What brings about this difference is maintenance.

1. Regularly Change Your Furnace Filters

Your furnace filter is one of the most important parts of your furnace. It keeps pet hairs, dust and other particles from reaching and obstructing the blower fan. As it does this, it gets clogged quite quickly, depending on the amount of debris in your house or the outside environment.

When you have a clogged air filter, the particles trapped will significantly reduce the airflow through the system. This will make the furnace run longer to provide the set temperature. In so doing, it could overheat and put excessive strain on system parts, reducing its life expectancy.

Fortunately, remedying this is very simple and inexpensive. All you have to do is change the filter regularly (once every three months, or more if you live in a windy and dusty environment). There are also reusable filters that you can wash and put back in.

2. Limit Your Use

The more you use your unit, the more wear and tear it gets. Therefore, if you want your heating system to last, use it only when you need it.

The best way to achieve this is by installing a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat allows you to create a schedule for your furnace. It’ll automatically turn down the heat when you’re not home or when the temperatures have become moderate.

Also, consider a Wi-Fi thermostat. This allows you to adjust the temperatures of your house through your smartphone, even when you’re not in the house. For example, you can turn off your heating system during the day, and then minutes before you get to your house, you can turn it back on using your smartphone.

3. Avoid the “On” Setting

Avoid using the “On” setting. Most modern thermostats have two fan settings: “Auto” and “On.” Switching to the “On” setting makes the furnace fan run constantly, even when it isn’t necessary.

Continuous use will wear out the fan’s motor and bearings, consume more energy and overwork the other parts of the system. The auto mode makes the blower run only when you need to heat up your room. This is more energy efficient and can help lengthen the lifespan of your furnace.

4. Always Ensure Adequate Airflow

Furnaces circulate a certain amount of air throughout their system to maintain the required temperatures in the room. Anything that interferes with this precise air volume will throw off the balance within your unit, putting a strain on the blower and other parts that play a part in heating your home. And of course, this will also lead to faster wear and tear.

The common factor that interferes with the airflow is a clogged filter, which as discussed earlier, requires regular replacement or washing depending on the type you use. The other part is the outdoor condenser. Make sure the space around the condenser allows for proper circulation of air.

In addition, also check the vents to ensure that there’s nothing inside them or blocking them that would restrict the airflow.

5. Conduct Regular Maintenance

The best way to make any system last longer is by avoiding repairs. This is because if one part of your system breaks down, it’ll affect the other parts of your system. To reduce the amount of repairs needed, you should schedule regular maintenance to check the status of your system.

Preventing wear and tear as much as possible will help extend your system’s lifespan. If you live in Cathedral City, CA, and the surrounding areas, call Palm Desert Air Conditioning & Heating Co. for furnace repair and maintenance services. We’ll help keep your system in tip-top shape.

Image provided by iStock

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