How to Sweep & Clean the Furnace

A home furnace can be swept with a regular vacuum cleaner.

Your home's furnace is a very important appliance in your household. In some situations, such as during a severely cold winter, your furnace might even be the most essential large appliance you own. This means that you should always do your best to make sure your furnace is operating efficiently at all times. To accomplish optimum levels of efficiency, you will need to sweep and clean your home's furnace on a regular basis.

Things You'll Need

• Screw driver
• Vacuum cleaner
• Hose attachment
• Cloth
• Toothbrush
• Water

Instructions

1. Create a cleaning schedule for your furnace and keep track of which parts you clean when. Sweep and clean your furnace's filter at least once a month during the winter months. Clean the heat exchanger surfaces once a year and the blower blades at the start of each winter.

2. Disconnect your furnace from all power sources before you begin cleaning or sweeping for your own safety. If there are any hot parts, let them cool down before touching them.

3. Remove the door or panel in front of the filter and blower. This can involve removing latches or hooks or removing screws.

4. Find the filter. It will generally be located on tracks that you can use to slide it out of the furnace. Remove the filter.

5. Use your vacuum cleaner hose attachment to vacuum off any dust or debris from the filter. Then wipe is down with a wet cloth. If the filter is replaceable, slide in a new one of the same size. If not, wait for the cleaned filter to dry and slide it back into place.

6. Place your vacuum cleaner hose into the space that's occupied by the furnace's blower. Remove dust and debris from this area.

7. Dip a toothbrush in plain water, and use it to clean the blades of the furnace's blower. Once the debris is loosened, vacuum it away. Cleaning the blades may require sliding out the fan unit of the furnace.

8. Slide the fan unit back into place and replace the door or panel that you removed. Reconnect the furnace to the power source when you're finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning, sweeping and creating a cleaning schedule. These steps are to be used when manufacturer's recommendations are not available or when further clarification for cleaning each furnace part is needed.

References

• HomeTips.com: Basic Heating System Repairs & Care