Serving Milford, MA & the 
The heating system in your Milford, MA, home is an essential piece of infrastructure. Without it, you could never get through our long, cold winters. Heating systems are also a significant investment in your home. Because of this, you have a vested interest in prolonging the life of your heating system. The good news is that there are time-tested and reliable ways to do so. Here are the 10 most important things you focus on.
1. Don’t Neglect Maintenance
A well-maintained furnace can last as long as 20 years or more. If you skip required maintenance, your equipment might last half as long. Heating systems require annual maintenance performed by a qualified HVAC technician. During each visit, our technician will inspect your heating system, clean it, and lubricate its moving parts. We will also tighten electrical connections and look for signs of wear and tear. Spotting problems before they worsen allows you to be proactive about repairs.
2. Remember to Change Air Filters
If you have a forced-air heating system, it’s crucial to replace its air filter as indicated by the manufacturer of your equipment. In most cases, you need a filter replacement approximately every 30 to 90 days. If you don’t keep up with that schedule, your air filter may get clogged with dirt, which will restrict your heating system’s airflow. That will force the system to work harder than necessary and shorten its lifespan.
3. Open and Unblock Your Vents
It’s also essential to keep your home’s vents open and unobstructed. When you close or block vents, you increase the static pressure inside your home’s ductwork. That pressure pushes back against your heating system’s blower fan. That leads to unnecessary motor wear and tear and can force your heating system to run abnormally. Both things will lead to premature system failures. While it’s alright to close one or two vents to control temperatures in your home, never close more than that. If your home isn’t heating evenly, you may need to have your ductwork air-balanced to correct the problem.
4. Invest in Insulation
Like any other piece of equipment in your home, your heating system will last longer if you use it less. You can take some pressure off your heating system by investing in upgraded insulation for your home. Your attic is a great place to start since it’s where most homes lose significant amounts of heat. In Milford, building codes call for attic insulation with a minimum R-value of 38. If your home’s attic has loose fill insulation, that equates to a depth between 10 and 11 inches. If yours isn’t that deep, you need an upgrade. You can also take steps to air-seal your home by installing weatherstripping and caulking gaps around windows.
5. Install a Smart Thermostat
Installing a smart thermostat is another great way to prolong your heating system’s life. Using your heating system more efficiently will prevent unnecessary wear and tear. A basic ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostat can reduce heating costs by 8%. More advanced models might save you up to 28%. That equals a massive reduction in your heating system’s workload.
6. Use Ceiling Fans
If your home has ceiling fans, running them along with your heating system is a good idea. Make sure they are running in a clockwise direction to amply circulate heat around your room. This will circulate cold air upwards and push heat down from your ceilings where it doesn’t benefit you. This will reduce your need for heat without forcing you to sacrifice any comfort. Less demand equals a longer heating system lifespan. Plus, you’ll save some money on your heating bills simultaneously. If you don’t have ceiling fans, consider installing some. They’re inexpensive and pay big dividends in comfort and energy savings.
7. Maintain Adequate Indoor Humidity
You may not know it, but humid air holds more heat. Unfortunately, the winter air tends to be quite dry. It’s why you’ll often feel chilly even when the thermostat shows what should be a comfortable temperature. If you keep the humidity inside your home between 35% and 50%, you’ll extend the life of your heating system. To determine if you need a humidifier, use a hygrometer to measure your indoor humidity. If it’s persistently below 35%, your indoor air is too dry. You can use portable humidifiers or a whole-house humidifier to solve the problem. The latter offers automated operation and will work directly with your heating system. It will also be far more energy efficient.
8. Keep the Area Around Your Furnace Clear
If you have a conventional gas furnace, keeping the immediate area around it clear is a good idea. Ideally, you want at least 30 inches of empty space on all sides of your furnace. It’s crucial because your furnace draws air from its surroundings to support combustion. If anything hinders that airflow, your furnace may not burn its fuel as thoroughly. That will lead to higher energy bills and damaged burners. The latter could cause a heating system failure and force you to replace your system. If yours is a high-efficiency furnace, it likely has an air intake that runs to the outdoors. In that case, you should periodically check that nothing is blocking that air intake.
9. Avoid Large Temperature Adjustments
You can also help your heating system last longer if you don’t make unreasonable demands for it. For example, you should never turn your thermostat up by more than a few degrees to try and warm your home faster. You’ll only push your heating system too much. You should also refrain from lowering the temperature too much to save energy. If you like to lower your home’s temperature at night, keep your reduction within 5 degrees of daytime temperature settings. That will eliminate unnecessary long running times for your heating system when you turn the thermostat back up.
10. Have Your Ductwork Inspected and Maintained
Finally, don’t overlook the health of your ductwork as a factor in your heating system’s longevity. If your ducts leak, your heating system will run longer than necessary. If your ducts are too dirty or obstructed, they will contribute to blower motor failures. On average, most homes require ductwork cleaning roughly once every three years. Those cleanings are also opportunities for close inspection that can reveal other ductwork problems. Keeping your ducts in good repair will help your heating system keep running well year after year.
Your Heating System Maintenance Partner
For over 20 years, Tingley Home Services has been the go-to heating service for homeowners in Milford. We offer complete HVAC services, including maintenance, repair, and installation. We can help you get the most out of your heating system and keep it running optimally. We also offer comprehensive electrical services and serve commercial customers as well.
If you need an HVAC company to handle your heating system maintenance in Milford, call Tingley Home Services!
