With winter right around the corner, now is the perfect time to make sure your furnace is prepared to keep you warm while also keeping your energy costs down. Furnace maintenance performed in the fall will help protect your unit from unexpected breakdowns that could cause you to be without heat in the middle of winter, when you need it most. Don’t put off furnace maintenance any longer, or you may regret it.
The goal of preventive maintenance is to keep your furnace working optimally and efficiently. This will help you not only get great results throughout the winter, but also extend the longevity of your heating system. The average lifespan of a furnace is 15 years, but with regular maintenance it can last for several years more.
Furnace maintenance entails having all the components cleaned and inspected for damage. Parts showing indications of deterioration can be replaced so they don’t break down once you start using your furnace more regularly. Gas connections also get secured to protect your family from any potential carbon monoxide leaks.
The HVAC technician inspecting your furnace will also perform a number of other steps to help keep it in optimal working order:
- Tighten electrical connections
- Calibrate limit controls
- Clear out condensate drain
- Inspect the heat exchanger for damage
- Check the burner to see it is operating properly
- Perform a combustion analysis for peak performance
- Lubricate combustion and blower motors
- Replace the furnace filter with a high-performance pleated filter
There are also a number of things you can do to help maintain your furnace. Filters should be replaced about once a month during the winter to keep them from becoming saturated with captured particles. Once these pollutants amass to form a thick screen, air has difficulty passing through; that will force your air system to work harder to push air through. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations to see how frequently you should replace your filter.
To learn more about the benefits of furnace maintenance or to schedule one for yourself, contact Overland Park Heating & Coolingtoday.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventive furnace maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Overland Park Heating & Cooling services Overland Park and surrounding areas in Kansas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
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