You know that you should keep up with HVAC maintenance to ensure your equipment lasts for as long as possible, but are there other benefits to a regular service schedule? If you're reading this article, you probably already know the answer is yes. A forced-air heating system cycles air through your home, so it has a critical role in your interior air quality.

However, it may not be clear how maintenance can directly impact your health and the air you breathe. Keep reading for three ways a well-maintained furnace will help keep your home's air warm, healthy, and safe to breathe.

1. Dust and Particulate Removal

Your HVAC system includes an air filter, but it's not there for the reason that you might expect. The main job of the air filter isn't to protect you but to protect the internal equipment in your furnace and air handler. Dust and large particles can settle on your burners, heat exchanger, and other parts of your furnace, causing combustion issues and other problems.

However, the same air that passes over these items will eventually make its way back into your home. As a result, the filter also removes dust and particulates from the air you breathe. Changing your filter on a regular schedule or upgrading to a higher-quality filter will keep your furnace safe while keeping your air clean.

2. Mold Prevention

Mold typically can't grow near your furnace's combustion chamber or heat exchanger since it's too warm. However, mold can grow in other parts of your HVAC system. High-efficiency furnaces produce a substantial amount of condensate while extracting heat, which can lead to moisture issues inside your furnace casing. Mold growth inside the furnace can distribute spores throughout your home.

Any routine maintenance program for your furnace involves checking the exhaust piping and condensate drains for problems that can lead to excessive moisture. Dealing with these issues will help prevent mold in your home and also prevent costly corrosion damage to your furnace's critical internal components.

3. Combustion Safety

Ultimately, the most important part of any maintenance program is checking your furnace for safe, clean, and efficient combustion. Combustion problems can do more than make the air in your home unhealthy—they can make it dangerous or even deadly. Problems with your burners or heat exchanger can lead to potentially hazardous carbon monoxide leaks.

Routine maintenance helps to protect these critical components and allows technicians to spot the warning signs of combustion trouble before they become too severe. 

Contact an HVAC contractor for more information about furnace maintenance.