Whether you own a rental property or operate as a property manager, some chores must be done on a regular schedule. From changing furnace filters to inspecting carbon monoxide detectors, you should take care of these tasks to keep your property safe and livable.
Take the time to know all the details of any new rental property you add to your portfolio, including its heating system. This will assist you in discovering what work has to be done and who should perform it.
Moreover, be aware of any safety hazards when using your furnace to prevent them from being a danger to you, your family, or your business. Learn from this simple guide for landlords on handling your furnace better and ensuring it works properly with simple troubleshooting, care, and maintenance.
Make A Furnace Maintenance Checklist
Proactively identify the furnace problems before they have a chance to become significant issues. This means making sure your equipment stays fully functional, regardless if it remains unused for weeks or is under heavy usage 24 hours a day. In addition, regular maintenance will reduce potential downtime. This easy checklist will help you keep your furnace in good working order:
Clean Or Replace The Furnace Filter
A filthy air filter impedes airflow, reducing the furnace’s overall efficiency. Ideally, you should clean or change air filters every 30 to 90 days. Depending on the quality of your furnace, disposable pleated air filters may last three months or longer. If you’re unsure about cleaning your furnace filter, contact a trained technician or review your manufacturer’s instructions.
Lessen The Furnace Heating Load
Reducing heat load by sealing off your home’s envelope helps keep your house at a comfortable temperature. To be safer, an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) contractor may perform a home energy audit to identify the primary sources of heating loss in your house.
Ensure That The Furnace Blower Motor Is Working Properly
The motor in your furnace’s blower produces movement in the furnace air and serves to supply air to the air conditioning system. Also, the furnace’s heating element warms the heat exchanger and should be checked to ensure that the blower motor moves the heated air.
Check If Your Household Vents Are Unobstructed
Your heating system must circulate the air throughout the furnace to operate. In this case, your furnace should be running at maximum capacity. If your vents are clear and working properly, that’s a sign that your system is healthy.
Clean The Heating System Vents And Ductwork
Anything that goes within the vents will end up in the ductwork, thus reducing the system’s efficiency. So, remove the floor registers, locate any mess surrounding them, and then clean them up with a vacuum. When you’ve made major improvements to your house, or it’s been several years since they were cleaned, you may want to get your ductwork cleaned.
Check If You Need A Furnace Repair
When the weather turns cold, you have to rely on your furnace to maintain a comfortable temperature in your house and avoid seasonal problems such as burst pipes. Before you call a professional technician, check these indicators to determine if your furnace system needs repairs:
Unusual furnace smell: You may have a problem with your furnace if you detect a strong fuel smell, an odor that develops abruptly, or a scent that doesn’t go away. Several issues ranging from a gas leak to excessive dust in the unit might lead to this unpleasant scent.
Discolored pilot light: Ventilation problems can be indicated by a different-colored pilot light, which is yellow. Carbon monoxide build-up causes the color shift.
Difficulty starting the furnace unit: Repairs might be needed if your furnace unit has to be redone several times during the day or if it has to be restarted frequently.
Persistent noises: Pounding or groaning sounds may occur from damaged or loose internal components, whereas whining and squeaking may be attributed to issues with the belt or fan.
Inadequate heat: Make an appointment for repair if your furnace isn’t providing heat or is only producing a low level of heat regardless of your thermostat settings.
Tripped carbon-monoxide detector: The carbon monoxide detector is specifically made to alert you about dangerous levels of gases like carbon monoxide. If the sensor is activated, immediately switch off the heater and open the windows to air out the house.
Conclusion
As a landlord, learning how to care for the furnace is one of the best things you can do for your rental property and to maintain a good relationship with the tenants. Just follow the guide above to take care of minor issues. However, if you have an older furnace, you must have a licensed service technician inspect it at least once a year. A service technician is more familiar with furnaces than you are. They can provide you with information on the proper way to care for and maintain a furnace.
