When you own a home, you are forced to take care of lots of issues you may not know anything about. For instance, your furnace. What happens if you have a problem with your furnace? Do you have any idea what to do with it? Most people, especially new homeowners have no idea what to do with a furnace. So this article is to help you figure out how to do basic maintenance for your furnace.

If your furnace is not working, the first thing you should check is if it is turned on. This seems obvious, but it can be hard to tell if your furnace is turned on. First, you need to check your breaker box. It is very possible that the breaker for the furnace has turned itself off. The breaker should be clearly labeled “Furnace”, if there is none, call an electrician to figure it out for you. Playing with the breakers is not recommended. Once you find the breaker, turn it ON.

Find the furnace switch. This might be hard to find. Check the furnace room, the ceiling, and the bottom of your basement stairs. Switch this into the On position. Check and set your thermostat. After you have made sure everything is on, make sure you are set to heat and choose your optimal temperature. This depends on your comfort and whether you wish to save money on energy costs. Generally, people set their heat anywhere from 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Another skill you will need to know is how to change your furnace filter. You can pay someone to do this, but it is so easy that this is usually a huge waste of money. You furnace will work much more efficiently if its filter is consistently cleaned. Carefully open the rack to your furnace. Take out the filter. Slide it out gently! Take a good look at it. Does it look dirty or discolored? If so, you will want to replace it. Place a new filter in the furnace, the same way you removed this one.