Furnace Maintenance and Winter Energy Saving Tips

It’s understandable that home maintenance tasks can fall by the wayside. Many homeowners in Aledo, follow the old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Life gets busy, and other priorities tend to creep in each month, eating away at your time and budget.

But the last thing you want to deal with during the first cold snap of the season is a furnace that won’t turn on. At Glenn Aire, we want to help you stay warm, safe, and stress-free all winter long.

In this blog, we’ll cover:

• 6 Furnace Maintenance Tips
  • Importance of Professional Furnace Maintenance
  • Winter Energy-Saving Tips

6 Furnace Maintenance Tips

Below are essential furnace maintenance tips to help prepare your heating system for the cold season ahead.

1. Understand Your Furnace and Its Maintenance Needs

Understanding the furnace in your home is the first step toward keeping it running efficiently and reliably. Each system has its own maintenance needs depending on age, model, and fuel type.

Familiarize yourself with the manufacturer’s recommendations and keep track of routine tasks like filter changes and seasonal inspections. Recognizing signs of wear or inefficiency early—such as uneven heating or strange noises—can help you avoid costly breakdowns.

2. Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly

This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your furnace running smoothly. A clean air filter helps maintain strong airflow, improves energy efficiency, and reduces wear and tear on your system.

ENERGY STAR® recommends changing your HVAC filter at least every 90 days, or more frequently during peak heating season.

Always refer to your furnace’s user manual for manufacturer-specific guidelines. The wrong type of filter or too high of a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating could cause heating issues, even if a filter is labeled “better.”

3. Use Your Senses to Check on Your Furnace

It’s easy to overlook your furnace, especially when it’s out of sight. But take a moment during the fall to do a basic visual and sensory check:

• Smell: If you detect the odor of rotten eggs, contact your utility company immediately—this may signal a dangerous gas leak. A burning smell the first time you start up may just be settled dust burning off, but if it persists, contact Glenn Aire.
  • Look: Make sure vent pipes are angled properly and securely fastened. Check that tubes are intact and connections are tight.
  • Listen: Unusual noises like banging, rattling, or whistling may be early signs of a mechanical issue.

4. Keep Vents and Registers Clear

Proper airflow is essential for your furnace to operate efficiently. Make sure all supply and return vents are open and free from obstructions like furniture, rugs, curtains, or large décor. Blocked vents force your furnace to work harder, leading to uneven heating, increased energy bills, and potential wear on system components.

Regularly dust or vacuum the vent covers to remove dirt and debris that can restrict airflow. This simple step helps maintain consistent temperatures throughout your home and supports your system’s overall performance and lifespan.

5. Clean the Drainage Pipe of Your Furnace

If you have a high-efficiency gas or propane furnace, it produces condensation. Most of the moisture exits as steam, but some water drains into a pan through a drainage pipe.

Over time, this pipe can clog or collect debris. A clogged drain can damage your flame sensor or other components. To maintain it:

• Flush it with white vinegar occasionally.
  • Use compressed air to clear any buildup.

6. Keep Your Furnace Clean

Dust and debris can accumulate inside and around your furnace, reducing efficiency and performance. Vacuum and dust around the unit regularly. If you choose to clean inside the cabinet:

• Use a soft brush to loosen dust.
  • Avoid touching or damaging delicate components.
  • For best results, schedule a professional furnace cleaning from Glenn Aire.

Why Schedule Professional Furnace Maintenance?

Even if you stay on top of basic furnace upkeep, annual professional maintenance is crucial for long-term performance and safety. HVAC technicians have the tools and expertise to catch hidden issues—like carbon monoxide leaks, worn components, or poor airflow—before they become serious problems.

A professional tune-up also includes deep cleaning, system testing, and efficiency checks that go beyond DIY tasks. Regular service helps prevent unexpected breakdowns, extends the life of your furnace, and may even be required to keep your manufacturer’s warranty valid.

Fall is the ideal time to schedule a furnace tune-up, before peak heating season begins.

What’s Included in a Professional Furnace Tune-Up?

A typical fall furnace maintenance visit may include:

• Inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks or damage
  • Checking and calibrating the thermostat
  • Testing electrical connections and safety controls
  • Cleaning the burners, flame sensor, and blower assembly
  • Lubricating moving parts
  • Checking gas pressure and ensuring safe combustion
  • Verifying proper airflow and inspecting ductwork

Why Fall Is the Best Time for Furnace Maintenance

Don’t wait until the first cold front hits! Fall is the ideal time to schedule furnace maintenance because:

• You’ll beat the busy winter repair season.
  • Your system will be ready before you heavily rely on it.
  • You’ll have time to address small issues before they become costly problems.

Winter Energy-Saving Tips: How to Reduce Furnace Use

Reducing your furnace workload not only saves energy but also helps your system last longer. Here are a few smart strategies to stay comfortable while lowering your heating bills:

Reverse Your Ceiling Fans in Winter

Most ceiling fans have a switch that changes the direction of blade rotation. In winter, set the blades to spin clockwise at a low speed. This creates an updraft that pulls cooler air up and gently pushes the warm air (which naturally rises) back down into the living space. The result is better heat distribution, so your furnace doesn’t have to run as often to keep the room comfortable.

Lower the Thermostat to Save in Winter

According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat down 7°–10°F for just 8 hours a day from its normal setting. The percentage of savings from this “setback” strategy tends to be greater in milder climates, but even in colder regions, it makes a meaningful difference.

In winter, aim to keep your thermostat at 68°F to 70°F while you’re awake, and lower it while you’re asleep or away. The smaller the temperature difference between the inside and outside of your home, the less heat is lost—and the less your furnace needs to run.

A common myth is that your furnace has to “work harder” to reheat your home after a setback, canceling out any energy savings. In reality, your home loses heat more slowly at lower temperatures, so the longer your house stays cooler, the more energy you save overall.

Simply put: the lower your indoor temperature during winter, the slower the heat loss, and the more efficient your heating.

A programmable or smart thermostat can help optimize your heating schedule. Many models can learn your habits and adjust automatically for comfort and efficiency.

Install a Humidifier

Dry winter air can make your home feel colder than it actually is. By introducing humidity into the air—ideally with a whole-home humidifier—you’ll feel warmer at lower temperatures. Moist air holds heat better and improves the body’s natural ability to stay warm.

Benefits of adding humidity in winter include:

• Increased comfort: Moist air feels warmer, reducing the need to raise the thermostat.
• Health perks: Humidity eases dry skin, chapped lips, and irritated sinuses.
• Protection for your home: Proper humidity levels prevent wood furniture, floors, and trim from drying and cracking.
• Enhanced furnace efficiency: With the added warmth from humidity, your furnace doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain comfort.

Ideal indoor humidity is between 30–50%. Anything lower can make your home feel colder and more prone to health and comfort issues.

Seal and Insulate Air Ducts and Home

Sealing and insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy waste and improve comfort.

Start by checking for drafts around windows, doors, and baseboards, then seal any gaps with caulk or weatherstripping. Consider adding insulation to your attic, basement, and crawlspaces to prevent heat from escaping through walls and ceilings. These improvements can significantly reduce heating loss and improve overall comfort.

Don’t overlook your air ducts—leaky or poorly insulated ducts can lose up to 30% of heated air before it reaches your living spaces. Sealing joints and insulating ducts—especially in unconditioned areas like attics or crawlspaces—helps your furnace run more efficiently, reducing energy bills and keeping indoor temperatures more consistent.

Call the Furnace Pros at Glenn Aire

When it comes to your comfort and safety, don’t leave anything to chance. Schedule your professional furnace tune-up in Aledo, with Glenn Aire today.

Call us at 682-282-0992 or request service online to book your fall furnace maintenance before the cold weather rush begins.