Do you know where the intake fan is on your HVAC system? Take it from your local Olathe HVAC service professional: it pays to know. It'll be wherever the furnace is, which is usually in the basement. Most gas and oil furnaces require combustion air to operate, and any HVAC system is going to pull in air to recirculate throughout your house.

We keep our furnaces in basements and other out-of-the-way spots for a lot of different reasons, but one big one is simply that—to keep them out of the way. Unfortunately, precisely because they're out of the way, our basements tend to get cleaned less often than the rest of the house, and accumulate a lot more clutter, dust, and cobwebs. You don't want any of that grime getting into your HVAC system, and you don't want clutter blocking up air intakes, so it's important to remember to keep the area around your furnace clean and free of obstructions.

It may be a little early in the year for spring cleaning, but it's a perfect time to clear out your basement. Especially if you have an unfinished basement, make sure that the area around your furnace is swept and dusted, and get rid of any old junk that's just laying around taking up space. These are all good things to do in the winter, not just because you can do them without having to go outside, but also because your furnace will be working overtime during the cold winter months, so you want to help make sure that it's working as efficiently as possible.

It's also a good idea to make sure that all your return-air and supply-air vents and grilles are open and unobstructed. Dust and debris getting into your HVAC system can do more than contaminate your air and muck up your furnace filter, they can also run up your utility bill. When filters, intakes, or registers are dirty or obstructed, the furnace has to work harder to push the air through, which means higher energy bills to keep your house heated.

In addition to keeping the area around your furnace clean, you should get rid of any old paint cans or other potential sources of contamination in your basement. And of course, because your furnace can get pretty warm, you never want to store combustible substances too close. It's also a good idea to spray for bugs or other pests. It may seem like you don't need to worry about an infestation in the winter, but insects and other pests may come into warm basements to escape the cold weather.

If you have any questions about how to get the most out of your HVAC system this winter, you can call an Olathe HVAC service professional at Davenport Services. We can tell you how to keep your furnace clean, how often to change the filter, and even give your HVAC system a tune-up or an annual inspection to make sure that everything is working as it should.

Founded in 1980, Davenport Service Company has provided "Customer First" service in Johnson County, Kansas for over three decades. We provide 24/7 emergency service, preventive maintenance service, and seasonal tune-ups for commercial and residential heating and air conditioning systems. If you're looking for a furnace tune-up in Olathe, call 913-441-2222 for hassle-free scheduling today!