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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:
Nov 9, 2018
All staff concerned were total professionals. Sales rep Dave was like having an old friend at your house. No up selling or pressure, just good honest facts and figures. The owners and assistant who installed our unit worked quietly, efficiently and left our home clean. We could not have been happier with the service and attention we were given. We are so happy a family member recommended Twintech. She said "don't call anyone else, just call them...they are amazing". And they were!!! Thank you guys for the great work!!! A. Johnson
Oct 28, 2018
We are completing a large project adding an addition on to our house and couldnt be more pleased with our decision to trust Twintech with our hvac work. They removed and replaced the furnace, installed a new A/C unit, swapped our tank water heater for a tankless unit, and completed ducting and new A/C lines through the addition. Without hesitation we would recommend Twintech to anyone.
Sep 6, 2018
Honest, very personable , men of their word ,workmanship xcellent ,showed up when promised ,They do not try to up sell ,rather give good advice instead . Price was very fair in my opinion .We have a family member with a medical condition and I think they made us a priority .Very happy with these guys . (Nice guys ) Stu Leffler Ajax.
Sep 5, 2018
Very professional, courteous, knowledgeable staff. Sales staff (David Gergley) excellent in knowledge and getting the job setup and installation was very prompt. Greg and Peter (technicians) knew their stuff and stuck around after completion to make sure it all worked properly and that I understood how it all was installed and how the unit worked. Would highly recommend them! Thanks for a great job-house is now cool and comfortable.
Sep 4, 2018
I had Twintech install a brand new air condition back in June of this year and I'm very happy with their service. I have a very busy schedule so I sent out an email to 7 or 8 HVAC companies just to get an idea of what it would cost. Dave at Twintech and only one other company were able to give me an approximate quote through email. Many of the companies I reached out to didn't even respond. I decided to meet with Dave and he was very friendly and professional. He gave me a good quote for a name brand/energy efficient AC with installation from their certified technicians. It was an easy decision to go with them.
Within a week I had the unit installed and working perfectly. Their technicians were very helpful and answered all of my questions. I'll definitely be calling them back for all of my HVAC needs in the future.
Oct 9, 2018
The people from Twintech were very friendly and personable...from the salesman to the installers. The installation was done as scheduled. I love my new air conditioner. My neighbour has a York and that thing is so noisy compared to my Goodman!! Thanks Twintech!!
Sep 5, 2018
Thank you, Twintech. They installed an A/C in my home in the middle of a heat wave which we appreciated very much. I found the team good, not overly friendly, other than the brothers. Dave, the salesperson was awesome, and, it's because of him that I was sold on using Twintech. I had other questions about additional work I am curious about and would have liked them to follow up and provide a quote. Other than that, which ultimately is not related to the great work they did, I would definitely recommend them, although I don't believe they go outside of Durham (check with them).
Aug 4, 2018
We have used this company a few times so I can't remember exactly what we paid but I do know that their fees are always very reasonable.
The first time we called Greg was when our furnace conked out while we were away. He came right away, showed me the problem and fixed it immediately.
The second time was when we needed an air conditioner moved and lifted to a platform. Again, he showed up on time, completed the job quickly (including a new gas line) and the fee was very reasonable.
We have received a quote from Greg to replace the air conditioner and furnace and when we are ready to move ahead, we will be calling him.
I have no hesitation in recommending TwinTech!
Jul 19, 2018
Our rating for Twintech is 5/5 stars. They are very professional and efficient, and the transparency they maintain right from the preliminary assessment till the day of the work is a testament to their experience in the field. We had Twintech replace our air conditioning and furnace, and we appreciate the efforts taken by Greg.
Apr 30, 2018
After 18 years my Air conditioner died in the middle of a heat wave. I entered my information on Home Stars and within the hour Dave from Twin Tech responded and offered to meet me as soon as possible depending on my availability. Dave was very knowledgeable about the products Twin Tech offered and even though this was the first quote I received . I felt very comfortable in giving Twin Tech my business. maybe it was the professional approach. Needless to say that the crew with Greg and Grant arrived promptly at the time they committed to were very professional and within a few hours had the place cool. They cleaned up and one would never know that I had work done . I know that the System is new and I probably wont need to worry about it for some time. However with the professionalism displayed by the crew I feel assured that should I need to call for service Twin Tech will respond. I also know that should I need a new Heating system I will go with Twin Tech. Keep up the good work.
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