It’s been a bitterly cold winter this season in the Metro East area. And even though the beginning of spring is just a few weeks away, we’re still forecasted for some single digit temperatures before we’re out of the woods. We want to help ensure that your home stays warm when you need your furnace the most, which is why today we’re providing you with five tips to keep your furnace running strong during extreme cold temperatures!

5 furnace tips for dealing with extreme cold weather

Keep a clean air filter installed. Your furnace works as hard as it can during extreme cold weather, so it’s important to do everything you can to give it a helping hand. One of the best ways you can do that is to make sure that you have a clean filter installed. If your filter is dirty, your furnace will have to work harder to compensate for the loss of airflow. A dirty filter is an issue at any time of the year, but it’s especially problematic in extremely low temperatures when your furnace is already working its hardest.
Don’t set back your thermostat. Just last week we posted a blog about how you can set your thermostat back during certain times of the day to conserve energy. Although this is a great idea, you should hold off on doing it when the temperatures are extremely low. That’s because your furnace might have a hard time bringing your home back up to your desired temperature, and it will consume a whole lot of energy while it’s trying to do so.
Check high efficiency furnace vents outside. If you have a high efficiency furnace, you likely have intake and exhaust vents that lead outside (those PVC pipes that stick out of your home near the ground). Check to make sure that nothing is blocking those vents and that snow or ice has not built up inside them. This will help keep your furnace working properly and safely.
Dress warm. Furnaces are powerful, but they can only handle a specific difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. When it’s bitterly cold out, your home might be colder than usual. Be sure to dress warm and use blankets to stay comfortable until the weather warms up a bit.
Call Tiger if you suspect any problems. When in doubt, give us a call! It’s best to take care of furnace problems as soon as you encounter them, because nothing would be worse than your furnace going out on one of the days that you need it the most.

If you have any questions about these furnace tips for extreme cold weather, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Tiger, your Metro East plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor.

photo credit: Wanderin’ Weeta