🔧 Simple Furnace Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Joey Natale
May 18
2 min read

Your furnace works hard to keep your home warm during the cold months—especially in places like the Greater Toronto Area, where winters can be long and harsh. But like any hardworking system, your furnace needs a bit of TLC to perform its best.

Good news: you don’t need to be an HVAC expert to keep your furnace in good shape. With just a few simple maintenance tasks, you can improve efficiency, reduce energy bills, and avoid surprise breakdowns.

Here are some easy furnace maintenance tips every homeowner should follow.

✅ 1. Change Your Furnace Filter Regularly

This is the #1 thing you can do to protect your furnace.

Why it matters:

A dirty filter restricts airflow, makes your system work harder, and can lead to overheating or even failure.

How often?

Every 1 to 3 months
More frequently if you have pets or allergies

🧼 Tip: Always keep a few extra filters on hand so you’re never stuck without one.

✅ 2. Keep Vents & Registers Clear

Make sure all your supply and return vents are:

Open
Free of dust
Not blocked by furniture, rugs, or curtains

💨 Proper airflow keeps your furnace running efficiently and prevents uneven heating.

✅ 3. Check Your Thermostat

Make sure your thermostat is:

Working correctly
Set to "heat" mode in winter
Programmed to save energy when you’re away or asleep

🌡️ Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat for added convenience and energy savings.

✅ 4. Inspect Your Furnace Area

Keep the area around your furnace clean and clutter-free. This improves air circulation and reduces fire risk.

🔍 While you’re at it, look for signs of trouble:

Unusual noises
Leaks or pooling water
Burnt or musty smells

✅ 5. Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detector

Your furnace burns fuel, which produces carbon monoxide (CO)—a colourless, odourless gas that can be dangerous.

✔️ Check the batteries and test your CO detector at least twice a year (along with your smoke alarm).

✅ 6. Clean Around the Furnace

Use a vacuum to remove dust and debris around the base of your furnace, especially near:

Intake vents
Blower doors
Burners (if visible)

🧹 Less dust = better airflow and reduced fire hazard.

✅ 7. Schedule Annual Professional Maintenance

Even if everything seems fine, an annual furnace tune-up by a licensed HVAC technician can:

Catch issues early
Improve efficiency
Extend your furnace’s lifespan

🛠️ They’ll check components you can’t, like the heat exchanger, burner flame, blower motor, and electrical connections.

🏡 Final Thoughts

Keeping your furnace in top condition doesn’t have to be complicated. A little DIY attention—paired with a yearly professional tune-up—goes a long way in keeping your home warm, safe, and energy-efficient.