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Heating System Maintenance – Forced Air
Performance Enhancers
Low installation cost, fast heat delivery, and reliability make
forced warm-air systems a popular heating choice. In this system,
a blower pulls air from the rooms into the cold-air return and return
duct, through a filter, and into the furnace. There the air is heated.
It then flows back to the rooms through the warm-air ducts and registers.
To ensure trouble-free operation, service the system as follows:
- Clean or replace the filter monthly during the heating season.
- Brush and vacuum heat exchanger surfaces annually (see owner's manual for instructions).
- Clean the blower blades at the start of each heating season.
Add a few drops of motor oil to each oil cup if your blower is
equipped with them.
- Check and adjust the belt alignment and tension if your furnace
has a belt-driven blower. To replace a worn belt, loosen the motor
adjustment bolt, remove the old belt, and attach a new one.
- Examine the ducts annually for leaks; seal any leaks with duct tape.
Balancing the Heat
If your home doesn't seem to heat evenly throughout, here are some
things you can try to stay cozy.
- If some rooms are too hot or cold, try adjusting the dampers
in the registers and, if your system has them, the dampers in
the warm-air ducts.
- Leaving the thermostat at one setting, let the system run for
3 hours to stabilize the temperatures. Open the dampers wide in
the coldest rooms. Then adjust the dampers room by room until
temperatures are balanced. Wait half an hour after each adjustment
before rechecking or readjusting.
- Speeding up the blower may help heat chronically cold rooms.
Adjust the motor pulley of a belt-driven blower or, for a direct-drive
blower, change the electrical connections (see owner's manual).
Setting the Fan Control
If you're chilled by a blast of cool air when the blower turns
on, try adjusting the fan control. CAUTION: If your furnace
has a combination fan and limit control, do not touch the pointer
on the limit control side. This pointer turns off the furnace if
the maximum allowable air temperature is exceeded.
- As the blower turns on, hold your hand in front of the warm-air
register farthest from the furnace.
- Ideally, your hand should feel neither cooler nor warmer.
- If it feels cooler, uncover the control and move the fan control's
ON pointer a few degrees lower.
- To adjust the temperature of the air coming out of the registers,
move the ON pointer to set the temperature at which the blower
turns on, the OFF pointer to set the temperature at which it turns off.
Of course, the requirements to complete any of these tasks will
vary from system to system and with the skill level of the person
performing them. If you are at all unsure about your ability to
accomplish these maintenance responsibilities, use a professional.
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