Annual Furnace Maintenance Checklist: 10 Easy Steps [Updated 2022]

The best thing you can do for your furnace is perform maintenance checks throughout the year. Doing so will keep it running smoothly and lengthen its lifespan, which will save you money in the long run. If you want to maintain your furnace like a pro, take a look at our ten-step checklist below. 

Annual Furnace Maintenance Checklist 

1. Inspect the Heat Exchanger and CO Detector

Heat Exchanger: This device safely transfers the air that’s heated in your furnace’s combustion chamber to the air ducts. Over time, the heat exchanger can form cracks that need to be repaired. 

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector: Just like the name suggests, a CO detector detects carbon monoxide—which is harmful if consumed in large amounts—in your furnace. Check this device to make sure the batteries are still working. 

2. Clear Space Around the Outdoor Units

Since furnaces use outdoor units to bring air into the system, it’s important to keep at least a few feet of space around those units clear of any objects, debris, or vegetation to allow for proper airflow. 

3. Clean the Burners

Burners heat a mixture of cool air and fuel to produce warm air. These components must stay clean from dust and debris for proper combustion to occur. 

4. Clean the Chimney and Vents

You should clean your home’s chimney and air vents once a year to remove any dust or debris that could pose a fire risk. 

5. Clean the Humidifier

The humidifier emits moisture into the air to speed up the heating process and allow for greater household comfort. It’s a device that you can turn on and off as desired. If you use the humidifier regularly, be sure to keep it clean. 

6. Change the Air Filter

Unlike other maintenance checks, you should change your system’s air filters every few months. Doing so keeps them clean from dust and debris that restricts airflow, contaminates the air you breathe, and slows down system operation. 

7. Inspect the Fan

Various debris can clog the fan and decrease its performance. Check it regularly to remove any debris. 

8. Lubricate All Parts

When you lubricate all the parts of your furnace, they operate more efficiently which allows your system to last longer. 

9. Seal Air Leaks

Air leaks cause warm air to exit your home and cool air to creep in. This not only wastes air that the furnace has already heated but also prolongs the heating process in your home. Sealing those pesky air leaks will prevent cool air from entering your home and warm air from escaping it. 

10. Check the Thermostat

If the temperature that you always set your thermostat to suddenly doesn’t allow for adequate household comfort, it might have a malfunctioning part or be broken. The only way to fix these problems is to repair the malfunctioning part or replace the unit altogether. 

Contact Hutchinson for All Your Furnace Maintenance Needs

Hutchinson has provided expert heating, air conditioning, and plumbing services throughout southern New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware since its founding in 1948. With technicians on-call 24/7, customers enjoy the highest level of value and customer service. If you need prompt and professional furnace maintenance, schedule an appointment with Hutchinson.