Posted: November 2, 2026
Winters in Newfoundland don’t mess around. That makes it essential to have a furnace that delivers reliable, robust heat in the most efficient way possible. Whether your home is heated by a warm air furnace or a hot water furnace, the way you care for it affects how long it lasts and how hard it has to work.
In this article, we’ll share tips that can help your furnace last longer, with the added benefit of boosting its efficiency and lowering your heating oil or propane usage.
Good airflow is one of the most important parts of warm air furnace care. When air is restricted, your furnace works harder to deliver the same amount of heat, which increases wear and fuel use.
Start with the air filter. Check it monthly during the heating season and replace it as soon as it looks dirty, since a clogged filter can strain the system. Then walk through your home and make sure every supply and return vent is open and unobstructed. Furniture, rugs, curtains, plants and storage boxes can all get in the way and reduce comfort and efficiency.
The right water level is crucial to a hot water furnace’s efficiency and lifespan. Too much water can reduce heating efficiency, while too little can cause the system to overheat. Check the gauge regularly and adjust the water level to the manufacturer’s recommendations, adding or removing water as needed to find the right balance. Our team is always available to help you with this.
Air can get trapped in the radiators of a hot water system, lowering its efficiency. Bleeding them once a year is an easy fix that takes little more than a minute. Find the bleed point at the top of the radiator and open it. You’ll hear the trapped air escape. Once water starts to come out, close the bleed point.
Sludge and sediment can build up inside a hot water furnace’s tank, causing inefficient operation, speeding up wear and shortening the unit’s life. To remedy this, shut down the furnace and open the drain valve until the water runs clear. Once you close the valve, remember to refill the tank to the proper level.
If warmth leaks out of your home, even the most well-maintained furnace will have to run more often. Before the cold sets in, look for drafts and seal them with door sweeps, weatherstripping and caulking. It’s also worth assessing your insulation. Boosting the R-value in your attic, crawl space and basement can lead to real savings.
How you use your heating system day to day has a big impact on heating efficiency and long-term durability. A smart or programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to cut unnecessary run time, since it automatically lowers the temperature while you’re asleep or away.
Professional maintenance is the single best way to protect your heating investment. Harvey’s attentive furnace care restores your equipment to its best possible efficiency, catches lingering operational issues before they lead to breakdowns and extends the life of your system.
For oil-heated homes, Harvey’s offers the most comprehensive heating protection in the region with our popular service plans. Our heating service plans keep your home toasty warm, winter after winter, without interruption. You can choose standard coverage or a Furnace Freedom© plan, which includes complete replacement of your heating oil furnace if your unit can’t be repaired. Neither plan has a deductible or extra costs for parts and labour, and both include regular furnace tune-ups.
If you want reliable heat, lower energy costs and a longer-lasting furnace, Harvey’s is here to help. Contact us today to arrange service or learn more about our plans.