Furnace maintenance is the thorough inspection and tune-up of your heating system. It’s a preventive heating service. Homeowners will only call their HVAC service provider if something goes wrong with their system. However, every HVAC system requires periodic maintenance to ensure it’s working alright, which means you shouldn’t only call your technician when something goes wrong.
Throughout the course of heating, your furnace is subjected to wear and tear. Unmaintained furnaces bring about higher energy bills, frequent demand for repairs, and less comfort for the homeowner. These operations stress the system’s components and may eventually hinder its performance, decreasing efficiency and reliability.
Furnace maintenance or furnace tune-up involves checking, cleaning, adjusting, lubricating, and testing all the system’s essential components. Homeowners can choose to get a furnace tune-up at least once every year or before the cold season begins.
Annual furnace maintenance keeps the heating system running efficiently. However, if one of your family members is experiencing respiratory issues or has a compromised immune system, it’s wiser to get furnace maintenance two to three times every year.
The best time for the furnace maintenance service is just before the cold season. This is because during the cold seasons, you will be running your heating system every day as the temperatures drop. The ideal time for the furnace maintenance service is during the fall, just before winter. This way, you’re assured that your system is ready for use during the winter.
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Advantages of Undertaking Annual Furnace Maintenance
- Saves money: Regular furnace tune-ups ensure that your heating system runs as efficiently as possible. Meaning that the homeowner will save on energy bills every month, and these savings added up over time can cover the cost of regular maintenance.
- Minimizes the risk of breaking down: Regular maintenance means that a professional can identify and address minor issues before they become serious. This culminates in fewer system failures and lower chances of staying without heat during the winter. It also reduces the need for furnace repairs.
- Maintains the system’s warranty: Almost all furnace warranties today indicate in their terms that the furnace must receive regular maintenance. Routine tune-ups help keep your warranty valid. It also ensures that in case anything happens during the warranty period, you’re fully covered.
- Maximizes the furnace lifeline: A well-maintained furnace will serve you well, and it can last for over 10 years. This will allow you to get the most out of that investment.
What’s Involved in Furnace Maintenance
The routines in furnace tune-ups differ with the company hired. Still, despite the different companies, you should expect those general rules when a professional is undertaking furnace maintenance. They include:
- Checking on the vent systems for any blockages or leaks
- Inspecting the blower’s access door for its tight seal
- Heat changer examination for signs of separation, cracks, or corrosion. A heat exchanger with such damages could allow the dangerous escape of carbon monoxide
- Inspecting the air intake grill for any blockages
- Checking and cleaning the blower and its components, including removing the blower wheel to ensure that the wheel is free of debris and dirt
- On the blower motor, performing the amp-draw test and comparing the results with the units listed specifications (This reduces the risk of catching fire and also extends the life of the blowers’ components.)
- Lubrication of all the moving parts of the motor to reduce friction (When the moving parts are not lubricated, they cause the motor to work extra harder. This requires much more electricity, thus raising energy bills, resulting in the heating system’s premature failure.)
- Checking the burner for proper ignition and testing the flame sensor for precise operation
- Ensuring that all electrical connections on the furnace are tight and examining all the wirings for signs of corrosion or rust
- Checking the flue for any obstructions (Failure to check the vent may result in bad indoor air quality. This happens when the duct has a blockage, and the toxic fumes resulting from combustion cannot escape.)
- Testing the calibration of the thermostat (Correcting calibrated thermostat reduces the home’s energy bills by preventing overheating. A well-set thermostat also ensures that the heat in your house is balanced for maximum comfort.)
- Testing all safety controls on the unit (This should include the high limit control that reduces the chances of a fire breakout by preventing the furnace from overheating.)
- Testing the systems startup cycle and ensuring that it’s functioning correctly
- Checking all the belts for signs of cracks or wear and tear
- Checking the air filters in the furnace (A clean filter enhances the furnaces’ workability, while a dirty one reduces the unit’s efficiency by reducing airflow and damaging the critical internal system components.)
For homeowners with oil and gas furnaces, there’s a need for more checking. The technician will perform the tasks below:
- Analyzing the combustion gases and comparing them with the furnace’s specifications
- Examining the thermocouple and replacing it if necessary
- Checking the electronic ignition or the pilot and determining if it’s working correctly (They’ll check the fuel lines for leaks that may allow the escape of harmful gases and pose a fire hazard.)
- Testing and seeing if the burner is operating correctly and, if not, cleaning it
- Testing the gas pressure of the manifold and ensuring that the right amount of fuel reaches the burners
After the routine maintenance by one of our professionals, there are several steps that you can undertake to ensure that your heating system maintains its efficiency. You should:
- Keep all the blowers’ motor bearings lubricated by adding a drop of oil into the oil cup every once in a while.
- Vacuum the blower’s unit periodically to keep it free of dirt and ensure that the circuit breaker is well shut before vacuuming.
- Change or clean the furnace filters once every two months during the heating season.
- Test all exposed ductwork for air leaks by lighting an incense stick to the joints. Seal any leaks with a metal tape.
- Check the thermostat accuracy by placing an outdoor thermometer next to the thermostat, then running the system to compare if the thermostat reading is the same as the thermometers.
Schedule Your Furnace Maintenance Service Today
IT Landes Service Team is an award-winning, employee-owned company committed to delivering the best services for your convenience. Our company is dedicated to exemplifying leadership, customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and expertise.
IT Landes Service Team has a team of skillful HVAC technicians with experience in handling all types of furnace maintenance. Our company offers a range of other services including plumbing, heating and cooling, and clean air and safety services.
Remember, it’s important not to skip the annual preventive furnace maintenance as you’ll get more efficiency, better performance, and greater comfort. One call is all you need to schedule your furnace maintenance service with our IT Landes Service Team. We serve Harleysville, PA, and the surrounding areas, and would love to serve you, too. Contact us today, and schedule your furnace maintenance at your convenience.
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