How to Clean and Maintain a Furnace: DIY Tips

Furnace cleaning

Here at Bee Clean Air Duct Cleaning, we love it when our clients ask us what they can do to keep their furnace in good shape between professional servicings. So, take a look at these 8 DIY steps to clean your furnace!

Bee Air Duct Cleaning is here to help!

Learn more about our services

Step One: Cut the power

The first thing you’ll want to do for a safe DIY furnace cleaning is turn off the breaker that provides power to your furnace. If you have a gas-powered furnace, you’ll also need to shut off the gas supply.

Step Two: Apply a face covering

You’re going to be kicking up dust, dander, and other airborne particles, so it’s a good idea to use a facemask, especially if you have allergies.

Step Three: Removed the furnace cover

Typically, furnace covers are attached with easy-turn knobs or screws that can be removed with a screwdriver.

Remove the cover and set it aside.

Step Four: Remove and check the air filter

It’s recommended that you change your air filter about once every three months, so this is a good opportunity to check it and replace it if you haven’t done so recently.

Step Five: Use a soft brush to remove dust

With a soft-bristled brush, loosen up dust from the internal components of your furnace. Be gentle so that you don’t accidentally knock anything loose.

A can of compressed air can also be a good way to remove particularly stubborn dust.

Step Six: Vacuum the inside of the furnace

Next, using the hose component of your vacuum, pick up dust from the inside of the furnace. Again, be careful not to be too forceful here.

If you’re able to reach the blower fan, make sure to spend a good amount of time vacuuming this component. The blower fan tends to trap a lot of dust, which can lower the efficiency of your unit.

Step Seven: Run a cycle with the furnace cover still off

Once you’ve finished your furnace cleaning, it’s a good idea to run a cycle to make sure that everything is functioning normally. To do this, you’ll need to restore power and turn the gas back on. Then, turn the thermostat up high enough to encourage the furnace to ignite. All you need to do at this point is wait and listen. If you hear odd noises, or your furnace doesn’t come on at all, a professional will need to come in and check it.

Step Eight: Replace the furnace cover

If your furnace is cycling normally, it’s time to replace the cover and call it a day!

When to call in a pro

Conducting a furnace cleaning yourself is a valuable skill! But there are a few times when you’ll want to call in a pro, such as:

If you notice issues with the electrical panel, such as loose cables. You might notice during your cleaning that some wires look to be loose or frayed. This is something that a pro should take a look at.
If your blower fan is very dirty or you can’t access it. Depending on how your furnace was installed, it may not be possible for you to clean it without removing the entire apparatus. In most cases, this should be done by a professional.

If you notice oil leaking from your blower fan motor. This can be common in older models, and could indicate a problem with the motor.

It’s time to schedule a more advanced servicing. If you want your furnace to be in good shape and keep your energy bill low, it’s always recommended that you schedule a yearly professional maintenance. Our team here at Bee Clean can provide a more advanced cleaning service, including cleaning of the flame sensor, removal and cleaning of the blower fan, and more. We provide furnace maintenance to areas across the Cleveland Metro Area, and would be happy to troubleshoot any furnace issues and get your furnace ready for winter!

How often should you do DIY furnace cleaning?

As we mentioned, you should be changing your air filter about once every three months. But when it comes to removing the furnace cover and cleaning inside, you can probably get away with doing this about once a year. That being said, if you have pets, are suffering from allergies, or live in a dusty part of town, you may want to schedule more cleanings.

Not sure how to proceed?

We serve the greater Cleveland metro area.

Call us: 440-514-8484

Email: [email protected]