You may have heard that Energy Star furnaces are built to last between 15 and 20 years. But it's understandable that, as an Ohioan, you might be a bit dubious of that assertion, given the workout your furnace endures during even a “normal” Midwestern winter.

Even if you're the kind of person who doesn't like surprises, you're bound to like this one: your furnace can meet and even exceed predictions by the U.S. Department of Energy because a furnace's lifespan depends greatly on the care it receives.

This puts you in the driver's seat, and there are three very simple steps you can take to steer your furnace past its expected lifespan:

• Keep your furnace working cleanly and efficiently by being vigilant about the filter. The more your furnace runs, the dirtier the filter is likely to get. So check it every month during the winter; you may have to replace it only every two or three months. If the filter is clogged with dust and debris, change it immediately to prevent your furnace from shutting down. And always keep a spare filter on hand.

• Remain equally vigilant about a yearly maintenance check on your furnace. The benefits are numerous: Your furnace will be cleaned (dirt and grime is your furnace's worst enemy), all the moving, interconnected parts will be lubricated and any minor glitches can be remedied before they mushroom into bigger and more expensive problems. Think of this annual “checkup” as an insurance policy that will keep your furnace running efficiently and longer than its expected lifespan.

• Control moisture and humidity in your home to prevent the heat exchanger – the main and most important component of your furnace – from rusting. In general, keep the humidity level in your home at between 30 and 50 percent in the winter and between 40 and 50 percent in the summer.

Think of Tri-County Heating & Cooling as your partner in caring for your furnace. Call us for an annual maintenance check but whenever you have questions about how to beat the odds of your furnace's lifespan.

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