Most people don't realize how important their furnaces are to them until after it fails in cold weather and that is too late. To prevvent your furnace from disappointing you, check out your furnace at least once a year. It's best to have a heating contractor check your furnace once a year and adjust the parts only a pro should handle. This is a simple operation that can make both you and your furnace breathe more easily. If you're using a disposable filter, you may need to change it once a month.
Washable filters last a lot longer.
It's easy for clutter to pile up around your furnace. For safety's sake, keep the area surrounding the furnace clear for at least 4 or 5 feet in all directions. Remove the furnace's blower access panel, vacuum the blower compartment, and clean the blower blades with a cloth or a brush. Prepare registers and radiators If you have a forced-air system, vacuum all the registers, then wipe them down with a damp cloth. If you have a hot-water system, bleed the air from each radiator so that hot water can fill it to the top.