Your furnace does not give you a notice when it is becoming dirty. It just gradually becomes less efficient and noisier. Your energy bills get high with no apparent increase in consumption.

In Edmonton, furnaces are busy most of the year. So cleaning is not something you want to take a chance with. But how often should you undertake furnace cleaning?

The following are the main factors that define the frequency of furnace cleaning in Edmonton.

The general rule: Annually

The winters of Edmonton are long and demanding. Usually, your furnace goes on in the fall. It works through to early spring. This means it labors hard to force warm air throughout your home every day. This is such a great workload.

Clean your furnace at least once a year. This helps prevent airflow blockage. Also, a clean furnace is more efficient in extreme cold.

Pets change the schedule

Pets are cozy in the house. But they also bring many allergens, such as:

• Hair
• Dander
• Dust.

Do you have pets? Do your pets shed a lot? Then the accumulation occurs more quickly.

You might require furnace cleaning more frequently if:

• You have one or more dogs or cats
• Vents get filled with pet hair very rapidly
• The filters become clogged quickly.

In this case, furnace cleaning Edmonton is recommended every 6-9 months. This is usually ideal for pet-friendly households.

Home age makes a big difference

Older homes tend to have aging ductwork. Therefore, many things have accumulated in the system over time. This includes:

• Dust
• Pet hair
• Insulation particles
• Debris.

This is likely no matter how often you clean it.

If your home is older, consider these recommendations:

• Annual cleaning is a must
• Clean more often when the air feels weak
• Additional consideration where renovations have been made recently.

Even newer homes may require cleaning earlier than anticipated if construction has taken place.

Furnace usage matters

Not every heating system burns the same. The level of your usage has a direct and positive impact on the rate of accumulation of dirt.

Your system may burn more frequently when:

• You live in a large or multi-level house
• Insulation is poor or aging
• You have your thermostat set high during winter.

Does your furnace operate more? Then it pulls more debris through the system. That is to say, you need to clean it more. The result is an efficient system.

Signs you shouldn’t wait

There are indications that your furnace requires cleaning sooner than later, regardless of your schedule:

• Dust blowing from vents
• Musty or burning odors when you switch it on
• Inadequate air flow
• Uneven heating
• Unexplainable increase in energy bills.

Failure to notice these signs may result in collapses in the lowest month of the year.

Summing up

For the majority of Edmonton homeowners:

• Once per year is standard.
• Every 6 to 9 months for pet-friendly households.
• More frequently in older houses or apparent problems.

Furnace cleaning helps to:

• Safeguard your system
• Reduce energy expenses
• Prevent unforeseen issues.

In the climate of Edmonton, staying ahead of maintenance is not a choice. It is the only way to keep your house comfortable throughout the winter.