A furnace is a heating system that uses gas, oil, or electricity to heat air that passes through ducts into your home. A heat pump is like an air conditioner that works in reverse. It takes the cold air from inside your home and passes it through liquid refrigerant coils outside. The liquid refrigerant absorbs the heat from the indoor air, warms up, and starts to evaporate. Then it cools down as it condenses back into a liquid again and returns indoors to repeat the process until it has done its job of heating your house.
Cleaning your furnace or heat pump, as well as getting routine maintenance, can help your unit run more smoothly.
Cleaning Basics for Your Heat Pump or Furnace
Over time, furnace filters will collect dust and debris. This can cause them to work less effectively, which leads to an increase in the energy consumption of your furnace. If you do not clean your furnace regularly, it will emit unpleasant odors and grow harmful bacteria or fungi. This guide should help you know how to clean your furnace or heat pump.
Step 1 – Turn Off the Furnace or Heat Pump
The first thing you want to do is turn off the power to the furnace or heat pump and then disconnect the electrical cord. You should always unplug your furnace before you start any work on it. If the furnace has a breaker switch, turn it off before continuing. Unplugging the unit will keep you safe while working on it and give you better access to the filter for cleaning.
Step 2 – Clean the Outside of the Vent Hood and Air Ducts
Vent hoods and air ducts are notoriously difficult to clean. This is because they are hard to reach, are not very visible, and are often poorly designed. They also collect dust, grease, pollen, and pet hair, which can be bothersome for people with allergies or asthma.
Dust and dirt can find their way into vents and exhaust pipes. This causes a buildup of dust and debris that can lead to overheating for the machine, clogs in the ventilation system, and even a fire hazard. To prevent this from happening, make sure you occasionally dust the vents or vacuum the exhaust pipe. You should also check your filters regularly to ensure that they’re clean so you avoid any complications while using your vacuum cleaner.
There are two ways you can clean the outside of your vent hoods and air ducts: You can do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Cleaning the outside of your vent hoods and air ducts regularly will help keep them from becoming too dirty, which will make them easier to maintain.
Step 3 – Remove Air Filters and Wash With Soap and Water or Use a Vacuum Cleaner
To remove the dust from the filter, you should first wash it with soap and water or vacuum it. Washing a filter with soap and water is a good way to clean a filter that cannot be washed in a dishwasher. If you don’t have time for this, then the vacuum cleaner can be used to suck out the dust from the filter.
Step 4 – Clean the Blower Assembly and Motor Housing
Cleaning the blower is crucial if your furnace has a squirrel-cage fan because it can easily become clogged with dirt. To clean the blower, remove the panel in front of the furnace. Using a toothbrush, clean the fan blades and the spaces between the blades. Use a vacuum cleaner hose to eliminate all the dirt and debris that get loosened by brushing. Vacuum the blower’s belts and pulleys as well. Afterward, clean the motor housing to remove dirt and grease buildup to prevent the risk of thermal overload causing a fire hazard.
Schedule an Appointment With One of Our Licensed HVAC Technicians
Using an expert cleaner will save you time and help prevent you from potential injury while working on your furnace or heat pump. Hunter’s Air & Heat, Inc offers the best furnace cleaning services.
At Hunter’s Air & Heat, Inc, we provide various services that range from minor maintenance to complete system replacements. We offer full-service furnace cleaning for all types, makes, and models of furnaces. We also offer annual maintenance programs, which are an excellent option to save on labor costs over time with regular visits from our professionals.
All our technicians are NATE-certified and have undergone extensive background checks. You can always rely on us for any vent cleaning needs that you might have. Contact Hunter’s Air & Heat, Inc for more information. We offer heating, cooling, and sheet metal fabrication services in Boling-Iago, TX, and the surrounding areas.
