Five Myths About Furnace Care Debunked for Edmonton Homeowners

When it comes to furnace maintenance and care, homeowners often rely on advice they have heard online or in person over the years, and unfortunately, this advice normally falls short. Luckily, our team of experts at Edmonton Furnace and Carpet Care is here to debunk the five most common myths about furnace maintenance to ensure that your home’s heating system runs safely and efficiently for years to come.

You only have to change your air filter once a year

Changing your air filter is one of the easiest and most important DIY maintenance tasks experts recommend doing regularly to keep your system running efficiently. Depending on your family’s needs, most furnace filters should be replaced every one to three months. If you have pets or family members with allergies, replacing your filter more frequently will help keep your home clean and your family healthy.

Furnaces don’t need maintenance if they’re running well

Just like your car or other household systems, your furnace requires regular maintenance to continue running smoothly and efficiently throughout the year. As a homeowner, you can take some of this into your own hands by regularly changing your air filter and ensuring that your vents and ducts are free from dust and debris. These small actions help keep air flowing easily through your home, making your system more efficient and your monthly bills lower. In addition to your DIY efforts, it is a good idea to schedule annual professional maintenance for your furnace. Annual professional maintenance helps address hidden issues you may not be able to identify on your own. Trained experts can clean dirty burners and identify problem areas or parts that may need to be replaced before they become more significant, costly issues. It’s normal for your HVAC system to experience wear and tear over time.

Turning up your thermostat will heat your home faster

You might have heard that to heat your home more quickly, you should crank up your thermostat. This isn’t true; in fact, turning up your thermostat will only waste energy and increase wear and tear on your system. Regardless of how high your thermostat is set, heat is distributed throughout your home in the same way. When you set the temperature higher, your system simply runs longer. A potential solution for keeping your home's temperature regulated is investing in a smart thermostat. This is a more effective way to keep your home comfortable and energy efficient.

Smart thermostats are a waste of money

Some say that a smart thermostat is just an expensive gadget that isn’t worth the investment, but this isn’t true. In reality, smart thermostats can be extremely effective at keeping your energy costs down. You can program them to reduce or raise the temperature of your home while you’re at work or out of town. Some thermostats can also be set to provide maintenance reminders, such as when it’s time to change your air filter. With these features, you can improve the efficiency of your heating system and save on your energy bills.

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Closing vents in unused rooms will save energy

By closing vents in low-traffic rooms, you’re actually increasing air pressure in your ductwork. This can cause airflow issues that force your furnace to work harder, resulting in increased wear and tear. Closing vents can also trap too much heat in your plenum, which may signal high temperatures to your furnace and cause it to shut off prematurely. When your furnace repeatedly turns on and off, it becomes less efficient and may even increase your energy usage.

As we enter the colder months, debunking popular myths about furnace care is more important than ever. Misconceptions about air filter changes, thermostats, and airflow can drive up your energy costs while shortening the lifespan of your HVAC system. Understanding your furnace and how to care for it will help you make informed decisions for your home.