When it comes to heating your home, proper furnace maintenance is perhaps the most important thing you can do. If your furnace is working correctly, not only will you have better airflow, but your system will also be able to produce hotter air.

How to Access the Furnace Pump

The furnace pump is the heart of the system, and it is very easy to clean. However, accessing the pump can be a little difficult because you need to be sure to properly shut down your system. Start off by turning your thermostat to the off position. At this point, you can open up your furnace cabinet. Most furnace cabinets have a removable access door or panel. On some older units you will need a screwdriver to remove this panel. Once the panel is removed, look for the gas control knob. This twist knob is usually easy to find and clearly marked as to which direction you should turn it to shut off the gas. Once the gas control is shut off, you need to cut the power to the unit. Since most pumps don't have a power switch, you need to find and switch the designated breaker for the furnace. Now that the unit is safely shut down, you can begin to work on the furnace pump. Remember the steps, because you want to do them in reverse when it comes time to power your unit back on.

Cleaning the Furnace Pump

Now that your unit is shut down, you should be able to easily see and clean the furnace pump. Most furnace pumps are contained in a plastic box. The box should have wires and tubes coming out of each end. Also, one side of the box should be vented. The fan is directly inside the vented part of the box. If these vents are blocked or clogged with dust, the fan will not have good circulation and it won't be very effective. As a result, your unit will suck up more electricity in attempts to compensate for the poor circulation. The best way to clean off the pump is to simply vacuum it. Don't wipe it down with a rag or duster because this could just push the dust into the vents and cause more clogging.

Once your pump is clean, you should put your furnace back together and try running it to see if you notice more efficiency and better airflow. If you continue to have problems, contact a repair service or visit websites like http://thurlowsheatingandair.com/.