10 Furnace Maintenance Tips for Ohio Winters

Ohio winters are no joke. With temperatures regularly dropping into the teens and single digits across Cincinnati, Dayton, and the surrounding communities, your furnace becomes the most important appliance in your home. The last thing any homeowner wants is a furnace breakdown during a cold snap when repair technicians are booked solid.

The good news? Most furnace problems are preventable with proper furnace maintenance. At More Heat More Cool, we've been helping Southwest Ohio families stay warm for over 20 years, and we've seen firsthand how regular maintenance can extend furnace life, improve efficiency, and prevent costly emergency repairs.

Here are 10 essential furnace maintenance tips for Ohio winters that every homeowner should follow.

1. Replace Your Furnace Filter Every 1-3 Months

If you only do one thing on this list, make it this: check and replace your furnace filter regularly. A clogged filter is the number one cause of furnace problems we see in Cincinnati and Dayton homes.

When your filter is dirty, your furnace has to work harder to push air through it. This leads to:

• Higher energy bills (up to 15% more)
• Reduced airflow and uneven heating
• Overheating and system shutdown
• Premature wear on the blower motor
• Dust and allergens circulating in your home

How often should you replace your filter? It depends on the type:

• 1-inch fiberglass filters: Every 30 days
• 1-inch pleated filters: Every 60-90 days
• 4-inch media filters: Every 6-12 months
• Homes with pets or allergies: Check monthly, replace as needed

2. Test Your Thermostat Before the Cold Hits

Your thermostat is the brain of your heating system. Before Ohio's winter weather arrives in full force, take a few minutes to make sure it's working properly.

How to test your thermostat:

1. Set the thermostat to heat mode
2. Raise the temperature 5 degrees above room temperature
3. Listen for the furnace to start within 1-2 minutes
4. Feel warm air coming from vents within 5 minutes
5. Verify the temperature reading matches a separate thermometer

If your thermostat is more than 10 years old or uses mercury, consider upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat. You can save 10-12% on heating bills just by programming your thermostat to lower the temperature when you're asleep or away from home.

3. Clear the Area Around Your Furnace

Your furnace needs room to breathe. Over the summer and fall, it's easy for storage items to accumulate around your heating system. Before winter arrives, take time to clear the area.

Maintain at least 3 feet of clearance around your furnace on all sides. Remove:

• Boxes and storage containers
• Paint cans and flammable liquids
• Holiday decorations
• Cleaning supplies
• Clothing and fabric items

This isn't just about efficiency, it's about safety. Furnaces generate heat during operation, and storing flammable materials nearby creates a fire hazard. It also ensures technicians can access your system if service is needed.

4. Check and Test All Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly. Furnaces that malfunction or have cracked heat exchangers can produce carbon monoxide, making working detectors absolutely essential during heating season.

Before winter, you should:

• Test each CO detector by pressing the test button
• Replace batteries (even if they seem fine)
• Verify you have detectors on every level of your home
• Place a detector within 15 feet of each bedroom
• Replace detectors older than 5-7 years

According to the CDC, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. Don't take chances, make sure your detectors are working before you fire up the furnace for the season.

5. Inspect and Clean Air Vents and Registers

Blocked vents are a common cause of uneven heating. Over time, vents can become covered by furniture, rugs, or curtains, or clogged with dust and debris.

Walk through your home and check each vent:

• Remove any furniture or objects blocking vents
• Vacuum dust and debris from register covers
• Make sure all vents are open (closing too many creates pressure problems)
• Check that return air vents are also unobstructed

If certain rooms are consistently colder than others, the problem might be ductwork-related. This is something our HVAC technicians can diagnose during a professional maintenance visit.

6. Listen for Unusual Furnace Sounds

Your furnace will often tell you when something is wrong, you just have to listen. Some sounds are normal (the whoosh of air, the click of the igniter), but others indicate problems that need attention.

Sounds that warrant a service call:

• Banging or popping: Often indicates delayed ignition or expanding/contracting ductwork
• Squealing or screeching: Usually a belt or blower motor issue
• Grinding: Bearings may be worn and need replacement
• Rattling: Loose panels, screws, or components
• Rumbling: Could indicate a dirty burner or flame sensor issue
• Clicking that doesn't stop: Igniter or control board problem

Don't ignore unusual sounds. What starts as a minor issue can quickly become a major repair if left unaddressed.

7. Check Your Pilot Light or Igniter

Modern furnaces use electronic ignition (hot surface igniters or spark ignition), while older systems may still have standing pilot lights. Either way, ignition problems are a common cause of furnace failures.

For older furnaces with a pilot light:

• The flame should be steady and blue
• A yellow or flickering flame indicates a problem
• If the pilot won't stay lit, the thermocouple may need replacement

For modern furnaces with electronic ignition:

• Listen for the click or glow of the igniter when the furnace starts
• If the furnace attempts to start but shuts down, the igniter may be failing
• Igniters typically last 3-5 years and are a common replacement part

8. Inspect Visible Ductwork for Leaks

Leaky ductwork can waste 20-30% of the heated air your furnace produces. That's like throwing money out the window during the coldest months of the year.

Check visible ductwork in your basement, attic, and crawlspace:

• Look for disconnected sections or gaps at joints
• Feel for air escaping at connections while the system runs
• Check for crushed or kinked flexible ductwork
• Look for deteriorating duct tape (it doesn't last forever)

Small gaps can be sealed with mastic sealant or metal-backed tape (not regular duct tape, which deteriorates over time). For larger issues or ductwork in walls and ceilings, professional duct sealing may be necessary.

9. Schedule a Professional Furnace Tune-Up

While there's a lot you can do yourself, nothing replaces a professional furnace maintenance visit. Our NATE-certified technicians perform a comprehensive inspection that goes far beyond what homeowners can do on their own.

A professional tune-up includes:

• Thorough cleaning of burners and heat exchanger
• Inspection of heat exchanger for cracks (critical for safety)
• Testing and calibration of thermostat
• Lubrication of moving parts
• Electrical connection inspection and tightening
• Gas pressure and combustion analysis
• Safety control testing
• Blower motor amp draw measurement
• Flame sensor cleaning

According to ENERGY STAR, regular maintenance can improve furnace efficiency by 5-10% and prevent up to 85% of repairs. Most importantly, it catches safety issues like cracked heat exchangers before they become dangerous.

10. Know the Warning Signs of a Failing Furnace

Even with proper maintenance, furnaces don't last forever. The average furnace lifespan is 15-20 years, and as systems age, they become less efficient and more prone to problems.

Signs your furnace may need replacement:

• Age: Furnaces over 15 years old are approaching end of life
• Rising energy bills: Efficiency decreases as systems age
• Frequent repairs: If you're calling for service multiple times per season
• Uneven heating: Some rooms much warmer or colder than others
• Yellow burner flame: Should be blue; yellow indicates incomplete combustion
• Excessive dust or dry air: System struggling to maintain air quality
• Strange smells: Musty or burning odors that don't go away
• Visible rust or cracks: Signs of deterioration

If your furnace is showing multiple warning signs, it may be more cost-effective to replace it rather than continue repairing it. Modern high-efficiency furnaces (95%+ AFUE) can significantly reduce your heating costs while providing more consistent comfort.

Prepare Your Furnace for Ohio's Cold Winters

Ohio winters demand a reliable heating system. By following these 10 furnace maintenance tips, you can help ensure your furnace runs efficiently and safely throughout the heating season.

Remember, the best time for furnace maintenance is before the cold weather arrives. Waiting until something breaks means you'll be competing with every other homeowner in Cincinnati and Dayton for service, often paying emergency rates and waiting longer for help.

At More Heat More Cool, we recommend scheduling your annual furnace tune-up in early fall. Our Comfort Club members receive priority scheduling, discounts on repairs, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing their system has been professionally maintained.