When the weather outside is frightful, you don't want to have a furnace breakdown. That's why maintaining your furnace before the arrival of major winter storms is so important. If you're handy, you may be able to perform some of these tasks, but in general, homeowners should leave the furnace maintenance to the experts.
Some of the things that can go wrong with your furnace can be hazardous to your health — such as a cracked heat exchanger, for example, which can leak deadly carbon monoxide. A trained technician can also spot failing parts before they lead to system inefficiency and even a breakdown.
Following is a list of things a service technician will do — and a couple of things homeowners can do as well.
Change the Air Filter
If you can't remember to change the air filter regularly, try to remember at least to change the filter with the seasons. Your system will run cleaner and more efficiently if you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for filter changing. If you don't know how to change the filter, schedule furnace maintenance and ask your tech where it is and how to change it.
Check the Controls
You can turn the furnace controls on and off to make sure they are working right. The system should turn on, operate and turn off.
Thermostat Check
You can change thermostat batteries regularly, or check the wiring for loose, frayed connections. You may even be able to change the thermostat itself if it goes on the blink. But also have your technician check the thermostat to see if the system is achieving the temperature set points as it should.
Inspection and Cleaning Points
An HVAC tech should check and/or clean the following:
- combustion blower housing, blower wheel and motor (for amp draw)
- heat exchanger.
- controls, wiring and connections
- burner flame and ignition
- condensate drain
The tech should also look for gas connections and leaks, as well as gas pressure.
Call the experts at C.R. Wolfe Heating and Cooling and we'll explain what our technicians typically do when maintaining your furnace.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.
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