Even though heating systems don’t get the same workout that cooling equipment do, it’s just as important to schedule furnace maintenance every fall. It will ensure safety and efficiency, saving money on heating costs, and it prevents a potentially costly breakdown.
When a professional HVAC technician goes through your equipment, he or she will inspect, clean and adjust all its components, starting with the air filter and general cleaning, then moving onto the more complex tasks like:
- Thorough cleaning. HVAC experts use specialized tools to clean all the parts, something especially important with gas heating systems. Soot that accumulates inside the burner or flue insulates it and keeps it hot longer. This actually hurts the heat exchange process and could cause the metal heat exchanger to crack, emitting deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your home. A dirty burner also drives up energy costs by slowing the heat exchange process. They’ll clean the gas ignitor or pilot light and thermocouple to assure dependable heat when you need it.
- Oiling. The furnace uses the same motor to pull the air through the air handler that the cooling system does and over the summer, the blower motor may run low on oil. Low oil in a motor causes it to wear out faster, prompting an expensive replacement. The technician will test the belt tension and its condition, replacing or tightening if necessary.
- Safety testing. Combustion furnaces will be checked for safe operation during furnace maintenance. The vent or flue needs to be clear to prevent CO buildup indoors, the gas lines checked for leakage, and the condition of the burner and heat exchanger evaluated. The technician will check all the safety switches inside the furnace, making sure they function properly.
- Thermostat calibration. Inspecting and resetting the thermostat if it’s necessary will assure you that it will keep your home as comfortably warm as you like it.
The professionals at Wolff Mechanical can help you with furnace maintenance for greater efficiency, comfort and safety. We’ve proudly provided HVAC services for greater Phoenix homeowners for more than 25 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Phoenix Valley area of Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
