Do you have a furnace in your home that is powered by natural gas? If so, you may be wondering what type of maintenance you should be doing to this appliance over the years. There are many components of a gas furnace that are required for it to work, and some things need to be done to keep these parts working well. Be aware of what needs to be done to these five components of a gas furnace.

The Gas Line

There are many aspects of the gas line that can have problems. Thankfully, natural gas has a rotten egg smell to it that will let you know if you have a gas leak. If there is not enough gas going to the pilot, it will not be able to light and heat the air going through your home. An HVAC contractor can inspect the gas line and make sure that there are not any existing cracks in the gas line or places where a crack could soon develop.

The Pilot Light

The pilot light of the furnace can develop a clog over time that prevents the pilot light from lighting. All it takes is dust cycling through the HVAC system to collect in the main orifice for it to have a problem. This is another part that an HVAC contractor will clean out when having the appliance serviced.

The Gas Valve

Another part that can potentially break from years of wear and tear is the furnace's gas valve. It is a part that needs to be inspected by an HVAC contractor to ensure it is working properly since it regulates how much gas flows into the furnace's burner. This is a part that is easy to replace if it's starting to go bad.

The Thermocouple

The role of the thermocouple is to make sure that the pilot light stays lit. The role of this part is to communicate between the pilot light and gas valve by telling the furnace's gas valve to release gas if the pilot light is lit. This part will be inspected to ensure it's working properly and replaced if it is approaching the end of its lifespan.

The Filter

One maintenance item that you can easily do on your own is changing the air filter. Simply swap out the air filter per the recommendation of the user manual, which will ensure that the furnace doesn't work harder than necessary to push warm air through a clogged filter.

For assistance checking any of these parts or getting repairs done, contact a residential heating system professional.