Furnace

 

The furnace is a major appliance involving gas and electricity.  If it is not treated properly it can become hazardous.  We have put together 5 tips to keep your furnace running safely.

1.    Clear the Area

While your furnace is probably located in the basement or a closet, it is important to keep other items you are storing in the area away from the furnace.  Do not place items next to or leaning up against the furnace.  Crowding the furnace can decrease its efficiency.  Additionally, and even more importantly, paper, cardboard or other similar items can catch fire if the equipment becomes too hot.

2.    Keep Flammable Materials Away

The furnace generates a lot of heat and fire, placing flammable items near the equipment poses a fire hazard.  Items like paint, pain thinners, oils, gasoline, etc. should be stored far from the furnace.  The items will ignite if they reach their flash point.

3.    Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Devices that burn fuel produce carbon monoxide.  Gas-burning furnaces create this gas.  Carbon Monoxide is toxic and will kill you.  Carbon monoxide is odorless, and it not detected by sight or taste.  Your heating system is designed to vent carbon monoxide and other fumes outside your home.  However, if there is a leak in the system a carbon monoxide detector will alert you to the potential danger of inhaling this toxic gas and you can leave your home before being poisoned.

4.    Change the Filter

The furnace filter is designed to catch and trap dust particles and debris to filter clean air through your home.  When the filter is not changed regularly it can prevent air from flowing.  This causes your system to work harder than it needs to work.  Additionally, it can harm the equipment itself.  Changing the filter every 30 to 90 days is recommended.

5.    Schedule Annual Maintenance

The best way to keep your home safe and your furnace functioning properly is to have it serviced annually.  Hiring a professional to inspect your system is essential to the health of your HVAC system.  An HVAC technician will clean, lubricate, and tighten up the equipment.  The tech will also look for any issues that may be a problem.

Here to Help

If you are concerned about the health of your HVAC system this winter, give the professionals at TR Miller a call.  Our professional team is here to help with anything you need!

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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