Very few new homeowners start out with detailed knowledge about common HVAC mistakes to avoid or how their new home’s HVAC system works. The equipment is complex and the gas and electricity utilities that are used to warm most homes can be dangerous to tamper with for DIY projects. Of course, as homeowners become more comfortable in their new surroundings, they’ll start to pick up bits and pieces about how the system works, what connects where, and what is and isn’t normal. But starting off with a few tips can always help, especially if it’s about what to avoid when dealing with a home’s heating and cooling. So push aside those anxieties and brush up on these 4 common HVAC mistakes that each homeowner should avoid.

Not Cleaning the Air Filter

Air filters should be checked and replaced regularly — every 30–90 days, or even sooner depending on if the environment is dustier, such as when other home maintenance is being performed, or after storms. A clogged air filter can make a furnace run much harder than necessary as it has a harder time pulling in air to run. This not only makes the unit run less efficiently, but can cause additional debris to blow through the vents and lower the indoor air quality, or even burn out the furnace’s motor.

Ignoring Furnace Smells

If a furnace hasn’t been turned on all season, there may be a slight burning smell the first time it heats up after being turned on. But a continual smell of something burning coming from the furnace is cause for alarm, as it could indicate that something is heating that shouldn’t be, such as frayed wiring. Additionally, if homeowners ever smell rotten eggs while the furnace is running, they should shut it off immediately (if they are able to do so safely), as this is likely caused by a natural gas leak. Homeowners should then immediately evacuate the home and call their natural gas company and professionals.

Letting Your Heater Run

Remembering to turn the heat down before leaving the house will help homeowners cut energy costs. Otherwise, letting the heater run while no one is home does create a toasty atmosphere to come back to, but ultimately ends up costing quite a bit of money. It’s easy enough to turn the heat off manually before leaving, but if homeowners would like the option to step back into an already warmed-up home, there are a variety of programmable and smart thermostats available, with the functionality to set specific times for the furnace to turn off and kick back on as needed.

Putting off Maintenance

Whether there’s a new noise coming from somewhere inside, an odd smell, or perhaps it’s just never been inspected, letting the furnace run without having annual maintenance done is setting the entire HVAC system up for failure. By scheduling and completing an annual maintenance check, professionals can catch issues before they balloon into costly, or dangerous, problems.

No one needs to be an expert in furnace repair to heat a home properly, but sometimes, questions or concerns arise, and homeowners need some additional help. If you’re looking for answers to an issue with your furnace, or it’s just that time to schedule an annual maintenance check, reach out to the licensed professionals at Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, and Cooling. The technicians at Duane Blanton have over 30 years of experience working with HVAC, and are able to steer you in the right direction to keep your home comfortable and cozy. Give the experts at Duane Blanton Plumbing, Sewer, Heating, and Cooling a call today at (847) 855-0075, or schedule online through their online scheduling portal.

This article was originally published on October 27, 2021 on Duane Blanton Family Home Service’s blog.