HVAC Tips cont.
TARA SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER, MR. FURNACE /
FURNASMAN NEW HOMES
Smith says it's important to regu- larly check your furnace’s filter to ensure it’s not blocked with any material that could restrict airflow through the unit. “The furnaces of today are a lot smarter than the ones of the past and they have lots of safeties. If it feels like it’s not getting enough air, it could actually shut down,” she explains. “The worst-case scenario is you go out of town in the middle of winter, your filter gets plugged and your furnace shuts down. If it doesn’t fix itself, it will shut down again. If that happens continually and there’s nobody around to correct the problem … you’ll start getting ice build-up and you could have a major problem in your home.” Smith recommends turning off your furnace temporarily when changing the filter to prevent any foreign material in the ductwork
from being drawn into the HVAC system and causing damage to its blower motor. If your HVAC system has a humid- ifier unit, it also has a filter that needs to be checked and changed regularly. Smith says it’s a good idea to turn your home’s humidifier off in the spring around the same time you turn on your air condi- tioning. It’s also a good time to clear off the outside of your AC’s condenser at the side of your home to make sure no unwanted yard materials are drawn into the unit. A chimney is no longer required in new homes since today’s energy- efficient furnaces and water heaters vent through small openings in a side wall. Smith says it’s important new homeowners keep that in mind if they are having landscaping done to ensure any shrubs or foliage are placed at least a couple of feet away from those vents to prevent them from becoming blocked.
A new home’s HVAC maintenance schedule should also include regular inspections of the house’s exterior during the winter to make sure no vents become plugged with snow or ice. “If we’ve had an excessive amount of snow or if your yard is not yet fenced, you need to get out there and shovel at the side of the house,” Smith says. “You’ve got to make sure those access ports are accessible and they can breathe; otherwise, that can shut down your furnace. If you are travelling in the winter, you need to make sure someone else is
60 PARADE of HOMES FALL 2024
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