Heating System: Gas Forced Air
Good maintenance of your furnace can save energy dollars and prolong the life of the furnace. Carefully read and follow the manufacturer's literature on use, care, and maintenance. The guidelines here include general information only.
Routine Maintenance
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Change or clean the furnace filter | Monthly during the heating season (year-round if you also have air conditioning) |
| Trial run to test the furnace | Early in the fall (air conditioning in the spring) |
| Adjust registers to balance heat flow | As needed for your family's needs |
Operating Your Furnace
Adjust Vents
Experiment with the adjustable registers in your home to establish the best heat flow for your lifestyle. Generally, you can reduce the heat in seldom-used or interior rooms. This is an individual preference and you will need to balance the system for your own family's needs.
Avoid Overheating
Do not overheat your new home. Overheating can cause excessive shrinkage of framing lumber and may materially damage the home. In the beginning, use as little heat as possible and increase it gradually.
Blower Panel (Fan Cover)
You need to position the blower panel cover correctly for the furnace blower (fan) to operate. This panel compresses a switch that tells the blower it is safe to operate.
Combustion Air
Furnaces in basements or in crawl spaces include a combustion air duct. The outside end of this duct is covered with a screen to minimize the possibility of insects or animals entering the duct. Cold air coming in through this duct means it is functioning as it should.
Never cover or block the combustion air vent in any way. Outside air is needed to supply the furnace with sufficient oxygen. Blocking the combustion air vent will cause the furnace to draw air down the vent pipe and pull poisonous gases back into your home.
Filter
A clean filter will help to keep your home clean and reduce dusting chores. Remember to change or clean the filter monthly during the heating season (year-round if you also have air conditioning). A clogged filter can slow airflow and cause cold spots in your home. Although it takes less than one minute to change the filter, this is one of the most frequently overlooked details of normal furnace care. If you have a permanent, washable, removable filter, you need to clean it monthly following the filter manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
On-Off Switch
The furnace has an on-off blower switch. This switch looks like a regular light switch and is located in a metal box outside the furnace. When turned off, this switch overrides all furnace commands and shuts down the blower. This is usually done only when maintenance service is being performed, although young children have been known to turn the furnace off using this switch. (If your furnace is a high-efficiency model, it does not have a pilot or an on-off switch.)
Return Air Vents
For maximum comfort and efficient energy use, arrange furniture and draperies to allow unobstructed airflow from registers and to cold air returns.
Thermostat
The furnace will come on automatically when the temperature at the thermostat registers below the setting you have selected. Once the furnace is on, setting the thermostat to a higher temperature will not heat the home faster. Thermostats are calibrated to within plus or minus 5 degrees.
Trial Run
Have a trial run early in the fall to test the furnace. (The same applies to air conditioning in the spring.) If service is needed, it is much better to discover that before the heating season.
What to Expect
Duct Cleaning
During the construction of the home, Classic takes reasonable steps to prevent construction debris from entering the ductwork. While reasonable steps are taken, there will be construction debris in the ductwork. Classic does not clean the ductwork prior to closing. Duct cleaning is the Homeowner's responsibility and is excluded from the Limited Warranty.
Exercise caution before spending money on professional ductwork cleaning services. A study by the EPA found no proof that ductwork cleaning improves indoor air quality, nor was evidence found that it prevents health problems.
Ductwork Noise
Some popping or pinging sounds are the natural result of ductwork heating and cooling in response to airflow as the system operates.
Furnished Home
The heating system was designed with a furnished home in mind. If you move in during the cooler part of the year and have not yet acquired all of your draperies and furnishings, the home may seem cooler than you would expect.
Odor When Operating
A new heating system may emit an odor for a few moments when you first turn it on. An established system may emit an odor after being unused for an extended time. This is caused by dust that has settled in the ducts and should pass quickly.
If you smell gas or a gas odor, call the gas company immediately.
Temperature
Depending on the style of home, temperatures can normally vary from floor to floor or room to room as much as 10 degrees or more on extremely cold days. The furnace blower will typically cycle on and off more frequently and for shorter periods during severe cold spells.
Troubleshooting Tips: No Heat
Before calling for service, check to confirm that the:
- Thermostat is set to "heat" and the temperature is set above the room temperature
- Blower panel cover is installed correctly for the furnace blower (fan) to operate; this panel compresses a switch that tells the blower it is safe to operate
- Breaker on the electrical panel is on (remember, if a breaker trips you must turn it from the tripped position to the off position before you can turn it back on)
- On/off switch on the side of the furnace is on
- Gas line is open at the main meter and at the side of the furnace
- Filter is in clean condition to allow airflow
- Vents in individual rooms are open
- Air returns are unobstructed
Even if the troubleshooting tips do not identify a solution, the information you gather will be useful to the service provider you call.
Related Topics
Warranty Coverage: See Heating System: Gas Forced Air Standards for coverage details.