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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:
Sep 5, 2022
Our hot water tank died and with an after hours phone called Bob the sales guy jumped into action. Friendly, courteous and genuinely wanted to do whats best for our house hold we were given options and he awaited an answer with no pressure.
We decided on what we wanted and it was installed asap and Greg and team worked and cleaned up so well, you would never know there was a hot water tank there before!
We love our hot water tank and being able to have back to back to back showers without having to wait for the hot water tank to heat the water!
Sep 4, 2022
I had heard of Twin Tech from a good friend of mine.
I needed to get a new Air Conditioner. It was not working properly and was 19 years old. I decided to get a new furnace at the same time.
I gave them a call on Saturday June 28.
I spoke to Bob Graham. I made arrangements for him to attend my house the following day.
I saw him on Sunday June 29 at 1100 AM.
He was on time and looked professional.
He spent 2 hours with me going over what I needed. He also suggested that I purchase a Humidifier. He gave me a quote of just under $11,000.00 for the purchase and installation of a Air Conditioner, Furnace and Humidifier. He was not pushy and gave me time to speak to my wife.
I called Bob on Monday June 30 and made arrangements to have it installed by the end of the week.
On Friday June 3 they arrived at 830 AM.
Again, right on time.
Greg and Mitch worked all day and finished the installation by 430 PM.
They made sure that everything was working properly and the basement was just as clean as it was before they came.
I will now be using Twin Tech to perform any maintenance needed on this equipment.
I was completely satisfied from start to finish with the service provided.
Thank You,
Gary Grieves.
Upchurch Ave.
Ajax.
Sep 3, 2022
We contacted TwinTech after having another ductless air-conditioning company come in to quote on a solution for our townhouse. We had a unique problem where my office was a hot spot - it's at the front of the unit and gets a lot of sun. If it's 20C outside, It's 29C in my office. The other company could not build a solution that would get a ductless unit to that room because of the location - the AC unit would have to be at the rear, and ductless systems would have to be on that side of the interior. TwinTech suggested a hybrid solution to fit our unique problem, where the ductless unit would move cold air to an air exchanger installed in our bedroom closet, and then they built a ducted vent system between all the upper rooms. This was less intrusive than building a central air system, and less expensive. Each room has a vent that I can close off, so I can push more cold air to my office when needed. We really didn't want ductless units sitting on the walls, and this looks and works better. I really appreciate the extra thought and care that went into the design of a solution, and the attention to detail in the installation. They answered all of our questions, and were able to do a bit extra by installing the ducts around the vents and painting them for us. It cost more than we originally planned for, due to our unique needs, but the fact that they offered financing helped us budget for more.
The job was done fast (I think we got lucky with timing where it wasn't the AC install busy season yet), and the team was very friendly and professional. They arrived and finished each day when they said they would. My office is now running at a comfortable temperature! I'm extremely happy with the experience and would whole heartedly recommend them.
Sep 2, 2022
How lucky are we to have this team come save us from our broken down, under sold, poorly installed previous unit (mind you there is a reason SEARS went bankrupt). Bob arrived on time to give us a detailed review of our unit and furnace; very knowledgeable. Greg arrived as planned with the new unit and reiterated what Bob explained how our furnace is equipped to handle the new unit and we didnt need to spend more money on a variable speed air conditioner. Cant say enough on how professional, efficient and personable this team is. Thank you so much guys!
Sep 1, 2022
We used Twintech for our replacement AC. Bob did a great job assessing what we needed and organized the install and showed up on install date. Greg and Mitch were on time and were very neat. They covered the traffic areas with a drop cloth and did an excellent install. Great clean up after install complete. Would recommend Twintech for heating and cooling.
Aug 31, 2022
They were fantastic, clean, freindly, great service. Would definitely recommend. Answered ally questions and more.
Aug 30, 2022
We woke up at about 7 a.m. the Sunday morning before Valentine's Day to a house that was barely 15 degrees Celsius on a really cold day. We tried to call some other suppliers but no answer or call back. We did a quick google search and Twintech came up. Had never dealt with them before. They had a chat line and lo & behold, someone answered; Greg. Helped us diagnose that our 40 year old furnace pilot light was out and walked us through how to relight it. All worked well; he even called me during this process. No charge I was told when asked.
15 minutes later, the pilot went out. It would not stay lit. Greg had Bob call us and we set up a meeting for about 11 a.m. that same Sunday.
Bob walked us through the options and even brought 3 electric space heaters for us to use. By Tuesday afternoon, we had a new Furnace and central air installed.
The team was helpful, responsive and respectful. Very glad we found them by accident and looking forward to a nice cool summer after a warm winter.
Thanks guys!
Aug 29, 2022
Dealing with Bob and the installation crew was a pleasure. They took the time to explain everything. What would benefit us the most and the price difference. They were in and out in a reasonable time frame and fit us in within a couple days of original meeting. Quality of work is excellent as well.
Aug 28, 2022
A pleasure dealing with Bob ,Spencer and Mitch . They are professional and they also observe the covid 19 precautions . Bob explained the whole process and got the new furnace up the next day . Highly recommend
Aug 27, 2022
Would like to thank TwinTech for their quick response to our furnace repair. We used TwinTech to install a new furnace and AC a few years
back. Our furnace started to have problems early in the evening of extremely cold night. Contacted TwinTech and they were able make a service call later that evening. They got the furnace going and came the next day to replace a part. The part was under warranty and there was
no charge for either service call!
We are extremely happy with their customer service and would highly recommend them.
Gary & Kelly
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