How to Clean an Oil Furnace

Cleaning an Oil Furnace

Cleaning an oil furnace is not a fun task, but it is a necessary one. The good news is you always have the option to hire a Corsicana,TX professional to do it for pretty cheap. Though, it if you want to save money by cleaning the furnace on your own, here is a step by step process on how to do it:

Step 1: Turn Off the Power

Whenever you are tweaking or fiddling with any electrical system, it is essential the power is turned off. The last thing you want is to be electrocuted or burned while performing an innocent act such as cleaning an oil furnace.

Switch off the electrical power and the fuel supply.

Step 2: Remove the Furnace Panel

Grab the applicable screwdriver and unscrew the screws that are securing the front panel. For a typical oil furnace, most of the parts in need of a cleaning are sheltered behind the panel.

Step 3: Locate, Inspect and Clean/Replace the Oil Filter

More often than not, the oil filter will be located inside the furnace. You’ll notice the usual square-shaped filter, similar to what your air conditioning filter looks like. If it’s been a year or more since you’ve cleaned or replaced the oil filter, it’s probably time to clean or replace it once again. In fact, a yearly replacement is highly recommended. You can take your filter to a local department store and have someone find you the appropriate model. Don’t worry, oil filters are notably inexpensive items.

Sometimes, the oil filter is located outside of the oil furnace. You’ll see something that symbolizes a soup can attached to the furnace. You can unscrew the top and take a look inside the filter. Again, your option is to either clean it with the screwdriver or sharp brush, or replace it at your local department store.

Step 4: Locate and Clean the Fan

Next, it’s time to clean the fan. You should see the fan inside the furnace, placed towards the bottom of the unit. Unscrew the fan from the furnace and use the combination of a screwdriver, brush and rag to relentlessly remove dirt and debris buildup. Try you best to clean the entire part—both the perimeter and the fan blades. Once cleaned, reattach the fan to the furnace.

A clean fan and filter contribute greatly to the functionality of the furnace and to the production of quality warm air filtering through the air ducts and into your living space.

Step 5: Inspect the Fuel Pipe

You’ll see a sizable pipe connected to the furnace. Inspect the pipe thoroughly to ensure no holes or gaps exist from the top down. The pipe can be a carbon monoxide threat; therefore, it needs to be 100% sealed in order to protect you and your family members.

Those are the critical parts to your oil furnace that need to be cleaned routinely (at least once a year) to prompt function and safety. Of course, an oil furnace is a relatively intricate system, so you should still strongly consider hiring a Corsicana,TX HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) expert to give your furnace the full rundown.

Area Wide Services can certainly help! Give us call at (903) 467-5620 and we’ll have an expert out to your home in no time to inspect and clean your HVAC systems. In the meantime, please visit our website—www.areawideservices.com—and our blog for additional helpful HVAC input.