Yearly Furnace Cleaning And Maintenance Pro Tips

Dave from @diyhvacguywill walk us through his 4 steps included in a common yearly furnace tune-up. If you take this on as a DIY project you could save yourself $75 -$125.

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[Gp-USMCB]

I have a very old Rheem furnace and last night we tried to run the heat for the first time since last winter. The house was chilly and we figured we would take the chill out. That being said it wouldn't start or stay running. I was pretty stressed out as I've been out of work, so i found this video at 430am and i decided to try and fix it myself. I cleaned the spark ignitor and flame sensor. I also used a can of air to clean the induction fan and its running no problem! Probably saved myself $700! Thank you for the advice!

[crand]

I had a furnace fail once and called a HVAC company. They charged me $250 to come out and diagnose that it was the flame sensor and clean it. It's a good idea to know what to do and it's a good idea to clean it every year.

[TheExcellentLaborer]

It is amazing how much dust collects inside of a unit. “A Good old fashion cleaning” was a great way to explain that part of the video. Great video Scott and Dave!

[MontysHall]

Yes sir, you are spot on! Regular preventive and servicing of literally every piece of equipment in a standard home requires due diligence.

[DEValentine]

It's smart to do the annual furnace cleaning DIY. Last time I had a tech do it, he slapped "condemned" stickers on my perfectly functional furnaces due to "cracked heat exchangers." Showed me grainy pictures with hairline fractures on them.

I got a second opinion. They told me the first outfit was notorious for the "cracked heat exchanger scam." That was 5 years ago. 18yo furnaces still running great.

[PwrSrg]

This is by far the most CLEAR and concise instructional video I have found, and also explains everything in detail. I hope there are two others just like this one that go into more detail about cleaning the blower wheel and evaporator coils! Thanks!

[terrimcglothin]

I have been in the business since 1986, and I remember when I felt like routine maintenance was more important. Changing belts, oiling motors, and shaft bearings. Finding sticky limit controls. Today, I am compelled to agree with it not being so necessary. But then I run across those few jobs every winter, where vent pipes are broken because a roof was replaced or the glue job on the pvc was poorly done. I find plugged vents from birds or mice. Certain products have secondary heat exchangers that sludge and cause the unit to spill over several hundred ppm of carbon monoxide in the exhaust. Cycle rates on thermostats that are not set up properly. Heatpumps wired to a fan coil improperly. Constant hot water tanks installed by big box stores with no screws in the vent pipes or leaking gas joints. So it is easy to think it is ok to have it done every few years if I train my regular homeowners and they are interested in taking the time. But often I am visiting new homes with new surprises. Once, I returned the following year, and a contractor cut out my venting and did not glue in a single fitting. I was really glad to find that one. It caused me to start taking pictures and document, my jobs before I leave.

[chrisgraham]

Great instruction and information. I converted from oil to a gas furnace 3 years ago and the HVAC installer recommended the first furnace cleaning to take place now that the furnace is 3 years old in order to maintain the warranty. Wow! what a difference from an oil furnace. My father was an oil burner mechanic until the late 50's, but he continued to do furnace cleaning for friends and others as a side hustle for many years and I helped him as a kid. We would vacuum pounds of black soot out of the furnace, the flu and the base of the chimney. Several measurements were taken and several adjustments were made to calibrate flue draft, burn temperature, pump pressure, cleaning and setting electrode gap, spray nozzle replacement, check and tension the fan motor belt and oil the shaft bearings, electronic photo flame sensor cleaning or replacement plus a host more. Finally you'd change the filter(s), re-prime the fuel pump and you'd be ready for another heating season. I'll continue to have the HVAC specialist in every 3 years until the warranty expires, but now I'll do my own annual maintenance in between and after the warranty. WHAT A simple procedure!

[PorfirioCastro]

Good basic video, just had my heater go out as its getting cold here in Chicago and remembered I didn't do any maintenance this year, didnt panic, followed this video and cleaned everything off changed the filter and BAM back up to 70 degrees in no time. THANKS!

[gcraig]

This is a good general check for a DIYer, and it's something I do every other year. The times I don't do it myself I pay a local company to do a little more detailed tuneup that includes inspecting the heat exchanger for structural issues like corrosion, current draw tests to check the operation of the electrical components, and actually removing and cleaning the burners. It's a system that's worked well for me for a lot of years. As for the filter change interval, I use a pleated filter with a midrange MERV and change it every other month. I run my HVAC system fan constantly, so I felt 2 months would be better than the filter company's 3 month claimed life. You don't want to allow a filter to become too restricted; the real reason furnaces have filters has to do with protecting the internal components, not the air quality in your rooms. Using very high MERV filters restricts the air flow and causes your blower motor to work harder than normal. The same can happen with lower MERV filters if you leave them in too long.

[northernwiman.]

Being in the HVAC business I can tell you that paying for a yearly furnace check up is a complete waste of money.

[ihar]

First time having a furnace, and I did not know this sensor needed maintenance. I bought a mini screwdriver ratchet bit set from Harbor Freight! A small multi stubby screwdriver would work also for tight spaces. Thank you for your video help it's much appreciated!

[froggey]

I love how you share this knowledge directly with homeowners. Super helpful. My furnace was turning on and then pretty quickly turning off. Thanks to this video, I simply replaced the flame sensor. Good as new. Thanks!

[avsfaninstl]

Solid video. My furnace was acting up earlier this year. I know a guy who has been in the HVAC business for years. These were some of the steps he talked me through over video chat.

[engmahmoud]

Great, my furnace was shutting off, I cleaned the flame sensor. You saved 100 bucks and I feel warm now. Thank you

[markb]

Right at 3:30, the words Sensor and Ignitor are actually printed on the panel. That helps as well. 😊

[kerikrogel]

Thank you so much for posting this! I'd had three different companies come by to look at my furnace, they dinked around with it for about three hours each and said they had no idea what was wrong with it, but charged me through the roof for looking at the furnace. (Not a lot of great service out here.)

[troys]

I don't why I watched this video--I don't have a furnace. Good information to keep in the back of my head.

[henrykennedy]

Being in HVAC since 1979 annual maintenance and checks are great investment saves a lot of problems

[richardlabat]

Thanks Great video - FYI-- Blow out air lines on air pressure sensing (vacuum) switches - Some of these air switches has two contact - one on the front one on the back .... check both!
yellow powers both switches - brown and orange are the two different outputs signals. Inducer housing pressure and collector box pressure (check square tubing vacuumed sensing signal). This may apply to your unit.