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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:
May 11, 2020
We couldnt have been more impressed with Twintech - from our first service call with Mitch who took the time to thoroughly diagnose the issue with our furnace, to Dave who proposed a well thought out solution to meet our needs and finally Greg and team who acted quickly to install given we had no heat.
We did our due diligence by soliciting quotes from alternate providers and were shocked and disappointed by the aggressive and manipulative tactics used.
Twintech was honest in their approach, detailed in their product knowledge, reasonably priced, diligent in their follow-up and valued our business.
Well done Twintech! You made this a positive experience for us and our new furnace works beautifully!
May 10, 2020
We recently purchased an Amana high efficiency furnace and humdifier through Twintech. The work was completed very professionally and the quality of the workmanship was high. There was some additional sheet metal work required to complete the installation, which they were able to complete themselves. Overall I am very pleased with the work and would highly recommend Twintech for a furnace replacement.
May 9, 2020
We were very pleased with every aspect of the work that was done. They were very professional and polite. They arrived when they said they would and job was completed on estimated time
We would highly recommend them to whoever needed a recommendation
We have a very large dog and they were very understanding and respectful of him being around
May 8, 2020
The blower on our furnace stopped working leaving us with a cold house. Dave from TwinTech responded immediately to our HomeStars service request. From beginning to end Dave was nothing but helpful, friendly and professional, he did a great job of walking us through the quote and scope of work.
The replacement of the furnace went smoothly. The Guys did a great job, everyone was very friendly and polite. There were no hiccups, or unexpected costs. The only surprise was they left the work area cleaner than it was before they started.
Was a great experience with the whole TwinTech team. Its been a couple of months since the new furnace has been installed and its working great!
May 7, 2020
I heard about TwinTech when researching new furnaces at furnaceprices.ca. After contacting them about my broken down furnace, Dave came to my house the next day to assess my situation and requirements for a new furnace. He recommended one that had stainless steel heat exchangers which sold me since my previous furnace had issues with a rusted secondary heat exchanger that had to be replaced. Dave also set me up with an appointment with an energy audit company so that I could take advantage of a rebate to help improve the energy efficiency of my home and get some money back. A few days later, Greg, Grant, and Mitch came to install the new furnace and remove the old one. When delivering and removing the furnaces, they were very careful not to damage my floors and walls, and even laid out red carpeting to protect the floors. They were very friendly and professional. The installation was completed in the time they said it would take and they cleaned up their work areas. Within a week, Dave called to follow-up to see how everything was going. I have already recommended them to several friends and family members who may need new furnaces soon.
May 6, 2020
Twintech did a great job, from Dave the Sales Rep to the Office staff and The Professional Technicians who did the installation. They were professional, courteous, knowledgable and informative. From beginning to follow up we were completely satisfied with everything. Thanks Again. Sincerely The Laytons
May 5, 2020
Great product, great service, great follow-up. The Twintech Heating and Cooling arranged removal of my existing oil tank and they installed the new gas furnace Amana (made in USA). I am very happy with the final result and support I received throughout the process. My thanks go to the entire Twintech team for their professionalism, great communication and follow-up.
May 4, 2020
We've had Twintech provide us with work in the past, for an inground pool heater and required rough-in for a new gas stove. More recently they provided the same friendly, professional, timely and clean installation of our new furnace.
May 3, 2020
Reasonable price and the workmanship was prompt and timely and the employees were great to deal with.
May 2, 2020
The sales process was friendly, informative, and very consultative. They worked hard to earn our business by taking a careful look around our home to assess our needs, providing a lot of information about the product, and answering all our questions and finding the right solution for our home at a competitive price. They prepared us very well for what to expect on installation day, and the installation went very smoothly - no surprises, all very professional! They gave us a call after installation to ensure we were happy with the work. We're very happy that we chose to work with TwinTech to get our new furnace.
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