An oil furnace should be cleaned and maintained regularly to ensure proper functioning and to avoid strong, pungent odors. Here’s how to clean an oil furnace.
Did you know that 5.5 million homes in the United States still use oil furnaces to heat their homes?
If you’re one of the households this using an oil furnace to keep your home warm during the colder months, you may be wondering what the best method to clean your oil furnace is.
Are you interested in learning how to clean an oil furnace? We’ve got several tips for you today. Keep reading to learn more!
Before Starting
Before you begin to clean your oil furnace, you will want to be sure to turn off all the power that’s going to the unit. You can do this by turning off the circuit breaker. This is also possible by removing the fuse for your circuit breaker’s oil furnace.
Clean the Blower
A blower is a fan responsible for heating your home, as it pushes all of the warm air that comes from the oil furnace out into your home.
You want to clean the blower by removing it off of the oil furnace. You can do this by removing the screws and cleaning each part of Blade’s blowers with a toothbrush. Finish up this part of the job buy vacuuming any debris that you were able to scrub off.
Lubricate the Motor
If your furnace has any oil ports, you’ll want to be sure to add lubrication to these ports at least once a year. You can do this by adding a few drops of non-detergent motor oil to each of the ports that are located on your furnace. Doing this will keep the motor running efficiently!
Replacing the Filter
The filter for your furnace should be inspected once a month, especially during the colder months. If you use your oil furnace often, you also want to replace the furnace air filter once a month.
Depending on where you live, an air filter can cost up to $5. However, if you’re wanting to invest in an air filter that’s high efficiency because someone in your family has problems with allergies, these filters can cost upwards of $15.
Inspect the Belt
You also want to take a look at the motor built on your oil furnace and look for anything abnormal. You should look to see if they have any tension, damage, or cracks in the belt. When you press down on the belt, it should feel firm.
However, if you notice that the belt has some give to it, this may be a sign that the belt needs to be replaced.
Understanding How to Clean an Oil Furnace
By having a solid understanding of how to clean an oil furnace, you can keep you and your family safe all year round! Plus, you’ll also help your oil furnace to run a lot more efficiently, saving you both money and energy.
Are you interested in learning more about other DIY projects you can do to improve your home’s maintenance? Check out our blog to learn more today!