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Do Your Own Furnace Maintenance This Winter

Family HandymanFamily HandymanUpdated: Dec. 07, 2021

Here are 8 things to check before you call a pro to repair your furnace, plus some tips for warming up a cool room this winter.

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Check the Air FilterFamily Handyman

Check the Air Filter

A badly clogged air filter can cause the furnace to overheat and shut off, so replace it if it's dirty. It can be hard to tell with some filters, so consider installing an air filter gauge that lets you know when it's time to replace the filter.

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Never Checking the Power on the FurnaceFamily Handyman

Never Checking the Power on the Furnace

Make sure the power is on! The power switch for your furnace looks like a regular light switch and can get bumped and turned off accidentally. If the furnace switch is off, just flip it back on.
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Never Checking the Thermostatfluxfoto/Getty Images

Never Checking the Thermostat

Did you know that you can save money on your energy bills by monitoring and setting your thermostat? Simply reset your thermostat at night and when you are away from home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “you can save as much as 10 percent per year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back seven to 10° for eight hours a day from its normal setting.” Thermostat still not working? Here's how to adjust it.
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Check the Gasline ShutoffFamily Handyman

Check the Gasline Shutoff

Check the ball valve on the pipe that supplies gas to your furnace and make sure it's open all the way. (Here's how to find the gas shutoff valve.) When the valve's handle is parallel to the pipe, it's open.
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Check the Door SwitchFamily Handyman

Check the Door Switch

Check the door switch. Whenever you remove the access door on the furnace, a little safety switch shuts everything off. Sometimes this switch will stay turned off if the door isn't completely closed. Plus: Do you need a new furnace? You might not.

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Check the Intake and Exhaust PipesFamily Handyman

Check the Intake and Exhaust Pipes

Newer high-efficiency furnaces will shut off if something like a bird or ice buildup blocks either the fresh-air pipe or the exhaust pipe. You'll need to go outside and peek inside the pipes to see. Sometimes a critter can get lodged in the pipe all the way back to the furnace and you won't be able to see it without taking the pipe apart, a job best left to a pro.
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Check the Condensate LineFamily Handyman

Check the Condensate Line

High-efficiency furnaces produce water called 'condensate.' If the drain tubing for the condensate gets clogged, the furnace shuts off. Check the tubing and clear any clogs. Or, better yet, just replace the tubing.

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Check the Cold-Air ReturnsFamily Handyman

Check the Cold-Air Returns

If you have some rooms that are warmer or colder than others, the problem might be a blocked air return. They're usually located in the floor or low on an interior wall. When blocked, cold room air can't 'return' to the furnace to be reheated.
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Get a Carbon Monoxide DetectorFamily Handyman

Get a Carbon Monoxide Detector

When heat exchangers crack or there's a leak in the exhaust pipe, deadly carbon monoxide can seep into your home's living space. That's why it's critical that you have a working carbon monoxide detector. You can buy two-in-one carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, or stand-alone units that you just plug into a wall (with backup batteries) for $20 to $40 at home centers.

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Adjust the DampersFamily Handyman

Adjust the Dampers

Check dampers to make sure they're not restricting airflow to the rooms that need it. Some need to be adjusted differently for winter and summer. You'll usually find them near the supply-air plenum on the large ducts that feed the rooms in your house. Here's how to fix a noisy vent hood damper.
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Never Changing the Furnace FilterFamily Handyman

Never Changing the Furnace Filter

Clogged air filters are usually to blame when a furnace stops working. Dirty air filters are also hard on blower motors and heat exchangers, so it's a good idea to replace your air filter before there's a problem. It can be hard to remember to check it regularly. That's where an air filter gauge can help; it eliminates guesswork by measuring airflow and telling you exactly when it's time to change your air filter. Plus: You really need to know these 21 air conditioner maintenance and home cooling tips.
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What 'Efficiency' MeansFamily Handyman

What 'Efficiency' Means

An AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating on a furnace tells you how efficiently the furnace turns fossil fuel into usable heat. An older-style furnace will have an efficiency rating of 56 to 83 percent, while a modern 'high-efficiency' furnace will have a rating of 90 percent or higher. That means 90 percent of the furnace's fuel becomes usable heat for your home, while the other 10 percent is lost with the exhaust up the chimney.

If you’re looking for the best furnace to purchase, energy efficient brands might be the best bet.

Do you have a room that’s a little colder in the Winter or warmer in the Summer? Check out this simple blower speed furnace boost trick.

Originally Published: January 09, 2017