New England winters can be a mixed bag, with some days being wet and soggy while others get downright frigid. If you have a furnace, keeping it in good condition can help you avoid heating problems and make sure you stay toasty warm all winter. Here are our top furnace maintenance tips and how to get help in a heating emergency.

1. Clean the Filter Slot
You might be changing or cleaning your filters, but are you checking the filter slot? Many people forget that the same dust and debris that builds up on their filters also accumulates in the filter housing. For best results, you wipe or vacuum the slot out before putting the clean filters back in.
2. Seal Leaky Ductwork
Drafty ductwork allows heating to escape, driving up your energy bill and making it harder for you to keep your space warm. Taking a day to look for leaks and sealing them with duct tape is one easy and straightforward way to reduce the workload on your furnace and help it run more efficiently.
3. Check for Signs of a Gas Leak
If you have a natural gas furnace, it’s important to be on the lookout for any indications of a potential gas leak throughout the winter. This includes things like hearing a faint hissing noise while your furnace is running and smelling an odor of rotten eggs.
If you do have a leak or think you might, it’s crucial to act fast. Shut off your main gas valve and quickly open your windows before going outside to contact your gas company. Don’t go back in until you’ve been given the all-clear.
4. Look for Any Problems with Your Wiring
Another common but serious problem is an issue with the electrical wiring that leads to your furnace. If any of these wires are frayed or if any connections are loose, this could potentially cause an electrical fire. Make a habit of checking your wiring each winter and contact a qualified Boston electrician if you notice any issues.
5. Keep the Outside of Your Furnace Clean
As your furnace pulls in air, it also pulls in dust and debris. This gets recycled through your ducts and ultimately ends up in the air you breathe. Sweeping and vacuuming the outside of your furnace regularly throughout the winter can help reduce the overall allergen load and improve your air quality.
6. Check Your Safety Shutoff Features
Your furnace may have one or more features that help protect you from fires, gas leaks, and other potential hazards. For example, a thermal switch monitors the temperature of your furnace and powers it down if there’s a risk of overheating.
A gas shutoff valve stops the flow of gas from your home to your furnace or from the main pipeline to your home. It’s important to make sure these are working correctly before you run into any issues, since you don’t want to find out that your shutoff valve is broken right when you have a gas leak.
7. Clear Your Drain Lines
If you have a high-efficiency furnace, your system will have a condensate line and drain set similar to a ductless mini-split. These are relatively easy to drain and keep clean, so you don’t have any blockages that could interrupt your heating. If you can’t or don’t want to do this on your own, this service is included during your annual professional maintenance appointment.
8. Calibrate Your Thermostat
Finally, take a moment to calibrate the settings on your thermostat to make sure it’s sensing the correct ambient temperature and powering your furnace on and off correctly. If your thermostat isn’t reading the temperature of the air in your space properly, it might demand too much or too little heating from your furnace, ultimately leaving you uncomfortable even though your equipment is running.
Heating Emergency? Turn to N.E.T.R., Inc.
Your furnace is the heart of your home and taking good care of it can help you prevent problems. That said, not everything can be avoided and you may still encounter an issue from time to time. If you have a heating emergency or your furnace just isn’t working right, contact N.E.T.R., Inc. at (781) 933-6387. We look forward to serving you!