If your home's heating system develops any kind of serious problem that requires extensive repairs, it is always best to call a professional. However, there are also plenty of small repairs and regular maintenance tasks that you can do on your own to help keep your home's heating system in good working order. Here are a few maintenance procedures you can tackle on your own to help reduce the chances of more serious problems.

Proper Furnace Filter Maintenance

Different kinds of furnace systems utilize different kinds of filters. The first step is finding out what kind of filter your furnace requires, and how often it should be replaced or cleaned. You can usually figure this out by reading the owner's manual for your furnace. If your furnace uses disposable filters, you will simply need to purchase the same kind of filter at the store, and replace the dirty filter with the clean one. Especially during the winter heating months, it is a good idea to check and replace your filters on a monthly basis. Disposable filters are inexpensive, but they can do a lot to keep your furnace running smoothly. Plus, they can help improve the quality of air in your home. If your furnace uses electrostatic filters, you'll need to learn the proper way to remove and clean it. These filters are even more effective at removing debris, so you'll want to make sure to check them frequently, at least once a month during the winter heating season. Always be sure to power the furnace off before changing or removing a filter for cleaning.

Keeping the Rest of Your Furnace Clean

There are other surfaces within your furnace that can accumulate dust and debris. While you have the furnace door open to service the filter, you can also vacuum the area around the blower. In some cases, you might be able to access the fan unit. If so, you can brush any debris off of the blades and then vacuum. However, never perform any cleaning or maintenance that is not recommended for your furnace. Always follow the instructions in the owner's manual to help ensure years of trouble-free service.

Basic Maintenance to Prevent the Need for Repairs

There are some other things to look for in your furnace while you are cleaning the interior surfaces. Take a look and see if all the belts between the pulleys and the motor seem to be in good shape. If you see any belts that are starting to wear, you  can change them if you know how, or call a furnace repairman to fix this small problem before it turns into something larger. Also, the motor of the furnace generally has oil ports, located close to the shaft. Check your owner's manual to see if you need to apply any lubricating oil on an occasional basis. Many modern furnaces do not require this, but older furnaces often do. In most cases, this means applying two or three drops of motor oil into each port according to the recommended schedule. Follow these few simple maintenance tips, and you'll probably find that you need to call the furnace repairman much less frequently.