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Everything You Need to Know About Furnace Maintenance
Posted On: November 7, 2024
Maintaining your furnace is crucial for keeping your home comfortable, safe, and energy-efficient, especially during the colder months. Regular furnace maintenance can prevent unexpected breakdowns, lower energy bills, and extend the lifespan of your system. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to take care of your furnace and what to look for in professional services.
1. Why Furnace Maintenance Is Important
Furnaces need regular upkeep to perform optimally. Neglecting maintenance can lead to higher utility bills, reduced efficiency, and an increased risk of breakdowns. Proper care helps:
- Extend Furnace Lifespan: Regular tune-ups prevent wear and tear, helping the furnace last longer.
- Reduce Energy Costs: Clean, well-maintained furnaces use less energy, which can lower heating bills.
- Improve Air Quality: Clean filters and ducts reduce dust, allergens, and pollutants circulating in your home.
- Ensure Safety: Regular checks can catch issues with gas leaks or faulty connections, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. Signs Your Furnace Needs Maintenance
Some signs indicate your furnace may need maintenance or repair. Look out for:
- Strange Noises: Banging, rattling, or whistling sounds can indicate mechanical issues.
- Weak or Inconsistent Airflow: This can result from a clogged filter or a failing blower.
- Increased Heating Bills: If bills are rising without a reason, the furnace may not be operating efficiently.
- Frequent Cycling: A furnace that turns on and off too frequently may have a thermostat or sensor issue.
- Yellow Pilot Light: A yellow or flickering pilot light can indicate a gas leak or ventilation issue.
3. DIY Furnace Maintenance Steps
Some basic maintenance tasks can be done by homeowners to keep the furnace in top shape. Here’s a checklist:
- Replace the Air Filter: Change the filter every 1-3 months, depending on usage and air quality.
- Check the Thermostat: Ensure the thermostat is working properly, and consider a programmable one to save on energy.
- Clean the Furnace Area: Keep the area around the furnace clear of dust, debris, and flammable materials.
- Inspect Vents and Ducts: Make sure all vents are open and unobstructed to allow proper airflow.
- Clean the Blower and Motor: Check and clean the blower fan and motor to prevent dirt buildup.
4. Professional Furnace Maintenance Services
Hiring a professional HVAC technician at least once a year is a good idea. Here’s what you can expect from a professional furnace maintenance service:
- Thorough Cleaning: Technicians clean the blower, motor, and other internal parts, improving efficiency.
- Lubrication of Moving Parts: Reduces wear and tear on components like the blower motor.
- Inspecting the Heat Exchanger: Professionals check the heat exchanger for cracks or other signs of damage to avoid gas leaks.
- Testing Electrical Components: Ensures that all wires, fuses, and connections are safe and functioning properly.
- Gas Line and Pressure Checks: For gas furnaces, professionals inspect the gas line and test for leaks.
5. How Often Should You Service Your Furnace?
The general recommendation is to have your furnace inspected and maintained at least once a year, ideally before the heating season starts. This can prevent last-minute repairs and give peace of mind that the system will perform when you need it.
6. Tips for Choosing a Professional Furnace Maintenance Service
When looking for an HVAC professional, consider these tips:
- Check Credentials: Ensure they’re licensed and certified.
- Read Reviews: Look for positive reviews and satisfied customers.
- Ask About Warranties: Reputable companies usually provide warranties for their services.
- Get a Detailed Quote: Before committing, get a written estimate and understand what services are included.
7. Common Furnace Problems to Watch Out For
Even with regular maintenance, furnaces can encounter issues. Some of the most common problems include:
- Pilot Light Issues: Often caused by a faulty thermocouple or a draft.
- Blower Issues: A blower that runs constantly or not at all can result from a faulty relay switch.
- Thermostat Malfunctions: Can cause uneven heating or frequent cycling.
- Dirty or Clogged Filters: Reduce airflow and can cause the furnace to overheat.
8. Safety Tips for Furnace Maintenance
- Check for Carbon Monoxide: Install carbon monoxide detectors and test them regularly.
- Turn Off Power Before Servicing: Always disconnect power to the furnace before cleaning or changing parts.
- Ensure Proper Ventilation: Gas furnaces need adequate ventilation for safety.
Conclusion
Regular furnace maintenance keeps your system running efficiently, reduces costs, and ensures safety for your household. By combining simple DIY upkeep with professional annual inspections, you can extend the life of your furnace and keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long.
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See What Our Customers Are Saying:
Apr 5, 2022
Had furnace and air conditioning unit put in. They did an excellent job great price and everything clean as can be, I was very pleased
Apr 5, 2022
All winter I have had an issue with very little heat reaching the 2nd floor of our home. After this past winter ended I decided to look into this. I found Twintech Heating and Cooling on line and started the process. After explaining my problem I had a call form Twintech and the tech came out and walked through things with me. The problem was the heating vent pipe had been dropped down in size by someone years ago causing little heat reaching the 2nd floor. Further into checking out the older furnace and AC they found a few things not properly installed by the last install of the old furnace and also that the AC was on it's last legs. I asked for a quote and waited a few days and we decided to go ahead with Twintech. They called a few days before to set up an installation time and date. The day of the install the guys were a half hour early which was a plus. The day of the install was great, the guys worked away removing the old furnace and AC.After which they installed the new furnace and AC. After they cleaned up the basement with all their tools and scrap metal etc. they came back inside to walk thru what they did. They also tested both the furnace and cooling systems to make sure everything worked and I the customer was happy. I now have heat on the 2nd floor for next winter. The guys from Twin tech were very professional. Their work habits and knowledge of the job was excellent. Their workmanship was just excellent, it was just up there with my standards as a homeowner. I am very pleased to have chosen Twintech for my new furnace and AC.. If I had to rate this experience with Twintech this company is a 10 in my books.Product,workmanship and customer care says it all.
May 16, 2021
I called Twintech during the Covid 19 crisis because our furnace was broken and it was still very cold during the nights. Dave answered all of my questions by phone but wanted to come have a look but only if our family felt comfortable having someone visit during the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and was able to attend that very same affternoon.
He was very courteous and informative but most importantly he respected his and our safety by wearing medical gloves in our home and maintaining proper physical distancing. He reviewed the various options of the products that suited our needs going over not only price but quality of workmanship, warrantees and where the product was manufactured which were all important factors in making such a large purchase. You could tell that Dave had been in this industry for a very long time.
The installation was done by a fine young gentleman the very next day and we now have a toasty warm home to ride out this crisis in while humming along at 96% efficiency!
I would recommend this very professional, small family business for anyone in need of HVAC equipment or maintenance.
May 16, 2021
My special thanks to Twintech teams! They had replaced my furnace and A/C, and installed a new humidifier for me 2 weeks ago. Dave, the sales manager, not only provided me with an honest quote on the best HVAC products with best quality and warranties, he also arranged portable heaters for me and sent supporting docs to energy company for energy audit. Above and beyond service!
Greg, Grant, Mitch had worked tirelessly and professionally to perform the HVAC installation. They worked with professional tools, and performed proper measurement readings after installation. They are very patient with all my questions, and very pleasant to communicate.
Great work guys! This company sure knows their products and they stand behind their services. My home comfort level has improved! I am glad that I can support an ethical and honest local family business.
May 16, 2021
Professional, flexible on price and delivered on time...well done. All you can ask for when getting a new furnace.
May 16, 2021
The work was done quickly and professionally. Workers were really polite and easy to work with.
Product works great!
May 16, 2021
Furnace broke down on a Wednesday, shopped around for prices and Friday Twintechs name came up from a referral from my wife's work. Called Dave 11 am, he came over around 1 pm. Gave me a very good price, I accepted. The guys were there two hours later to take the old furnace out and install the new one. All finished by 6:30pm. Finally heat.
They were very pleasant and helpful. As a result we are doing our A/C later this year with this company.
May 16, 2021
After some extensive research, we settled on Twintech for our new furnace. The service - from Dave's initial visit - through to the installation was absolutely fantastic.
Dave was super-patient with our many questions, did not try to "up-sell" us into buying things we don't need, knowledgeable, friendly and all-around an excellent Advisor.
I've forgotten the names of the installers but they were superb as well. They showed up on-time, did all the work with no mess or intrusion, removed the old furnace and installed the new one in one day; all with no impacts to our day-to-day life.
I cannot recommend Twintech enough, especially over any of 'bigger guys' who tried to sell us a bunch of thing we don't need. Twintech were fantastic and my wife and I are very pleased with our purchase.
May 16, 2021
From the minute I met Dave and discussed my new furnace needs I knew I was in good hands. He was patient, knowledgeable and very professional through the quotation process.
Grant and Greg did an outstanding job on the install. They did a great job of explaining the defects with my old furnace. The quality of the installation was excellent and the attention to detail was on another level. The old adage You get what you pay for couldnt be more true as I feel I received great value, skilled expertise and high quality customer service. I highly recommend Twintech for all your heating and cooling needs.
May 16, 2021
Glad to have found a not-too-big local firm that provided the needed expertise, quality workmanship, and competitive pricing as well. In and out in one day, removed the old units, did a nice job installing all of the new units, and left no debris. Even have a service contract that far outshined the big company offerings. Would definitely recommend them.
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