Four Tips to Prepare Your Home’s Furnace for Colder Weather

1. Replace the air filter

Undue strain can shorten the lifespan of your furnace. Regularly replace the air filter as recommended by the manufacturer, as dirty, clogged filters can restrict airflow, making the furnace work harder and for longer hours. Learn more about changing furnace filters.

2. Schedule a furnace tune-up. 

An annual furnace tune-up from a heating and ventilation professional can also go a long way towards minimizing issues caused by dirt and debris buildup. What’s more, inspections allow your contractor to monitor longer-term issues and take proactive steps to help prevent premature failure or inconvenient breakdowns during the heating season. Learn more about the value of a furnace tune-up.

3. Check your home insulation.

Keeping your home properly insulated and sealed can also help by preventing thermal loss and cold air infiltration and may reduce heating bills this winter.

4. Inspect your thermostat settings.

Whether you are more prone to prioritize comfort or savings, finding the perfect temperature on your thermostat may take some trial and error. A good general guideline for energy-saving heating is to set the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For more comfort, try raising the temperature by 1 or 2 degrees at a time. For energy savings, turn the temperature down 1 or 2 degrees at a time. For more information, check out our article on what temperature should I set my thermostat?

Tips When Replacing Your Furnace

Regardless of how well the furnace is made and how well you maintain it, the day will come when it’s reached the end of its usefulness. You’ll know it’s time to replace your furnace when you’re making frequent service calls, dealing with expensive repair bills, or when your unit is blowing cold air, making unusual noises or not operating as efficiently as it once did.

It can be tempting to buy the cheapest model, however a furnace replacement is a decision that can affect your family’s comfort and energy bills for years. So how do you make a sound choice? Our furnace buyers guide can help guide you through the decision-making process.

The first thing to know is that there are many types of heat sources for your house, including gas furnaces and electric heat pumps. Your easiest, and probably least costly path, will be picking a furnace that uses the same fuel source as your current one.

If energy efficiency is a priority, you’re in luck. Comparison shopping is easy today, as all furnaces sold domestically are required to display estimated annual operating costs on the EnergyGuide label. Federal tax credits and rebates for high efficiency equipment can help make your purchase more affordable.  All combustion-type furnaces are rated according to annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The minimum allowed rating for any furnace in the United States is 80%, however, some of the most efficient models available go well beyond that. For example, Carrier’s Infinity® 98 gas furnace with Greenspeed^® Intelligence offers up to 98.5% AFUE performance and it also has humidity control and air purification options.

Another factor to consider is heating capacity. Improperly sized furnaces can result in loss of comfort, loss of efficiency and even reduce the lifespan of the furnace. Be sure to have a qualified heating and ventilation professional assess your square footage, number and quality of windows, insulation and other factors to make a recommendation.

Beyond the basics, today’s furnaces offer new comfort-enhancing, energy-saving features that could help you reduce your heating costs.

Furnace Issues? Connect With Your Local Carrier Dealer

No one wants to be dealing with a furnace repair or replacement when demand is high and temperatures are low. Take steps now to ensure you’re set for a cozy, comfortable winter season. If it’s time to replace, learn more about what to look for in your future gas furnace contact your local Carrier expert.