Blocked ducts, from years of dirt and debris, can prevent the warm air from getting into the home. This restricted air flow means that your heating system has to work even harder, and often cannot maintain the set temperature when the weather outside is especially cold.
The recent frigid temperatures had really put a Hudson homeowner’s heating system to the test. Despite his thermostat setting, the home was 2-3 degrees cooler than the set temperature, yet the unit seemed to be working overtime just to maintain this deficit.
Regular Maintenance Can Prevent Blocked Ducts
Over the years, dust and dirt can collect in your home’s ductwork. Without regular maintenance to clean these ducts, this can restrict the air flow over time significantly enough to affect the performance of your home’s heating system.
If you suspect that blocked ducts may be the problem, perform a visual check to ensure that there is nothing obvious blocking the air flow. You can remove anything that is immediately at the vent, but hire a professional for cleaning any further in the duct.
It May Be Time To Replace Your Unit
On other occasions the heating system may simply not be able to keep up. This can be the case if it is an older unit in need of replacement. Using more energy to heat the home is a good sign that something is wrong and you should schedule a professional to take a look at your system.
In the case of the Hudson homeowner, a technician was able to perform some routine maintenance on the unit, cleaning the blocked ducts and eliminating that restricted airflow. Scheduling regular maintenance on the system will prevent this in the future and this homeowner can now enjoy a warm home all winter long.
The post What to Do When Your Furnace Can’t Keep Up with the Thermostat appeared first on Joyce Cooling & Heating Inc. – Nashua, NH.
