Ultimate Spring Tune-Up Checklist For Your Furnace
Don’t be like most people who hardly think about their furnace. After cranking out heat throughout winter, it is wrong to live in bliss while ignoring tuning up your furnace. Modern furnaces are reliable but routine maintenance prolongs the furnace life. It also encourages efficiency to make your system work like new. Check out our ultimate spring tune-up checklist for your furnace to keep your family warm and cozy.
Assess operation
The end of winter is the right moment to evaluate your furnace operation. This helps determine appropriate repairs and whether to get a replacement. Equally important is to evaluate the age and condition of your unit. This is very important to do this in spring before the weather heats up. Extreme stress during operation in warm weather encourages wear and tear of a furnace regardless of age. Taking care of your furnace in spring is a proactive idea to limit the chances of a breakdown.
Cleaning air ducts
The furnace air ducts might get clogged over time inhibiting the efficiency of your system. This comes with problems to your lungs and other health problems. An inefficient running furnace encourages an outbreak of asthma and allergies. So, spring is a great moment to inspect the air ducts for dust and debris.
The build-up of these limits the HVAC system from working efficiently. Call a professional HVAC technician for heating repair services in Sacramento including inspection of your furnace. This allows determining whether cleaning is needed. This will encourage better breathing for you and your furnace.
Check belts and filter
Belts on the furnace run the blower. Therefore, these should always be tight with proper alignment. Ensure to call a technician to check the belts for signs of wear and tear. Signs of cracking or thinning require immediate replacement. During the procedure, the technician also cleans dust and debris from the belts and fan blades.
A filter is an essential component of a furnace and requires appropriate cleaning. You have to call an HVAC technician to eliminate dirt and debris from the filter. And, the technician will recommend whether your system needs replacement. The rule of thumb is to replace the filter after six months. Avoid attempting DIY methods to fix your furnace filter and belts. Only a professional HVAC technician understands the right procedure.
Evaluating the thermostat
The thermostat is the brain of your heating system. When not working efficiently, the performance of the whole system is less likely to perform to your expectations. Checking the battery of an electric thermostat is necessary after some time. A dying battery encourages temperature fluctuations leading to inefficiency of the whole heating system. Replacing the battery in spring is necessary for the thermostat to keep the furnace working efficiently.
Cracks on the combustion chamber
A professional inspection of your furnace is necessary as part of spring tune-up. This might detect cracks in the system combustion chamber for proof that gas leaks out of your unit. Modern furnaces come with safety features including shut off valves. These protect your home from gas leaks. Older furnaces are less likely to have these safety features. Never hesitate to call a professional technician to inspect your system for possible leaks.
Cleaning nearby area
It is very important to ensure that your furnace is free from clutter. Neglecting to check on your heating system increases the chances of debris piling up near the furnace. This might happen in summer when not using your system. On cold spring days, you need to get some heat from your furnace for home comfort. The presence of debris near the system might cause a fire hazard.
How calling a professional HVAC technician helps
Saving money on energy bills
Professional furnace tune-up allows cleaning and checking electrical parts, blower motor, and control motors and others. Afterward, a report is made for appropriate repairs and replacements. This allows fixing issues regarding your furnace before escalating leading to costly repairs. A professional HVAC technician comes in handy to ensure that you get the right temperature indoors for comfortable living in spring.
Preventing heating system breakdown
The build-up of dirt and debris is the major cause of furnace breakdown. Excessive dirt on your furnace makes various parts of your unit to work harder and slower. A broken-down furnace also encourages the air conditioner to breakdown as well. You will have to replace two units to get a comfortable temperature in your home. Professional spring tune-up makes your device work much longer to protect you from such costs.
Bottom line
The heating system works tirelessly to ensure that you have enough heat in your home to keep you comfortable on chilly days. Ensuring this requires maintaining your heating system to limit the chances of break down. Spring is the best time to tune up your heating system after the cold winter periods and before temperatures rise in summer.