We’ve had an especially long and cold winter.
The outside temperature dropped down into the forties in early September.
Now, it’s the middle of April and we’re still dealing with snow. Although I had the furnace professionally serviced in the fall, it has carried a very heavy workload. It’s been running non stop for seven straight months. It’s kept the house nice and warm when the outside temperature hit thirteen below zero. I’m sure there’s a significant amount of dust and debris hidden within the inner workings. When the furnace blows hot air, there’s definitely dust and contaminants coming from the vents. I make sure to change the air filter every month, but the furnace definitely needs to be taken apart and thoroughly cleaned by a licensed technician. I do not have the specialized tools or knowledge to access the interior of the heating unit. I’ve cleaned the outer cabinet and washed the vents. I’ve used the end of the vacuum cleaner wand to suck up all of the dust I can reach. Every time the furnace starts up, my whole house smells badly of burnt hair. It’s really awful and I can’t seem to fix it. I am reluctant to schedule another maintenance with a local HVAC contractor. I keep thinking this long and awful winter is going to end soon. I am looking forward to shutting down the furnace. I could then wait until fall to have the system inspected, cleaned and tuned. If I have service performed now, I’ll need to do it again in a few months. While the furnace sits idle during the spring and summer, more dust will build up on the components.