There are many ways to improve your gas furnaces production as well as make it last a long time. This is well where you should start. There is a lot of debate over either you should keep maintaining the unit you have or replace it with a newer model. In reality if your furnace is doing it's job properly you shouldn't have to replace it. Although the costs of a new gas furnace have come down, this is something you well have to think about.
Basic disposition maintenance should be done regularly. One thing is to convert your furnace filters often; it is recommended that you replace them every other month if you have a heater air conditioning compound system. If you just have a heating theory then you should replace the filter with a new one in the spring when you turn it off. This way you will have a fresh one already installed and you won't forget.
Another thing you should do on a quarterly basis is to check any vents in the floors and along the baseboards where the heat comes out. Not only should you keep the the duct work clear of debris but you should vacuum the grates as often as you would vacuum the rest of the house. It may also be a good idea to have a professional come in at least once a year to clean out all the duct work fully to get rid of cobwebs, dust and other airborne particles that may have collected.
In many cases using common sense can prevent having someone come out and mend your gas furnace. Every time you open the unit to convert filters check the rest of the furnace as well. Before you go poking nearby turn off the gas and any electrical components first. Bring a vacuum and suck out where you can and check the belts to make sure they are tight. A worn or loose belt can dramatically reduce a furnace's out put. You will want to vacuum any vents on the surface of the unit as well.
While you are inspecting the furnace itself if you smell gas you have a leak that needs to be fixed by a professional right away. If you are not sure you can find out by filling a spray bottle with soapy water and spray on places like junctions, connectors and wherever else you may suspect. If the water starts bubbling you have a leak.
There are other things that you should also check like the pilot light for build up, development sure your thermostat is working properly, and even oiling the motor and other interesting parts need to be done on a quarterly basis. Some of these things you may be able to do using your owner's by hand but other things should be handled by a professional due to security issues.
In order to make sure your furnace is living up to its capabilities there are other things you need to do. One of them is to do a quarterly walk straight through of the house and look for drafts. These can be found under and nearby windows and doors or from places without permissible insulation. You may even have to think them in order to improve heating quality.
Don't fear, there is help to pay for these costs. The government has many programs straight through state and local agencies that can help in many ways. They will pay for an vigor audit where a professional comes in and assesses your needs and recommends what you need to do. They can help pay for weather stripping and partial reimbursement for new vigor effective windows and many others.
Heating Tips For Gas Home Furnaces