Are you maintaining your Home Furnace?

Importance of Home Furnace Maintenance

It is well known that in order for your vehicle to perform at its best, it must be getting regular check-ups and oil changes. The same maintenance philosophy of "you can pay me now or you can pay me later" is very appropriate to furnace maintenance. Unfortunately, with the hustle bustle of life, home furnaces, which provide families with warmth for the better part of a year, are overlooked, until a problem occurs. The following article will review the importance of regular maintenance of your home furnace.

Primarily, there are three main drawbacks for not maintaining a furnace

1.       Higher utility bills

2.       Early wear and tear of the furnace components leads to unnecessary expenses.

3.       Release of various toxins into a home

Overall, dust and dirt are the main culprits that affect the functioning of a furnace. Air continuously travels in and out of a furnace and a natural accumulation of dust and dirt is unavoidable. With regular furnace maintenance, there is an assurance that there is no significant build-up and will result in a longer life of a unit.

Next to prevention of dust and dirt, furnace maintenance involves paying attention to the following furnace components.

Furnace Filter

The filter is a component that requires the most attention. It is recommended that when the unit is being used on a continuous basis, checking it at least once a month is necessary. Further to that, a furnace filter also requires periodical replacement or cleaning. Especially since a dirty filter leads to the furnace’s motor having to work harder and it becoming worn out before it’s due time.   

Pilot Flame

Most people don’t give the pilot flame a second thought, however, this component requires some special attention. A flame that has the correct level is required to ensure that burned gases are not released in excess and are therefore, toxic to the household.

Furnace Motor

The motor of the furnace is the third component that requires maintenance. A component, entitled blower assembly needs regular check-up, lubrication and adjustment or replacement of the belt and lubricating the moving parts. Professional furnace inspection and maintenance includes complete diagnostics, lubrication and adjustment of all parts to your furnace so that it may be effectively assessed for safety, lifespan and energy efficiency.

Proper maintenance of a furnace is relatively easy and inexpensive. Failure to maintain a furnace will result in very costly premature repair or replacement.

Schedule a tune-up yearly by a licensed furnace specialist to keep your furnace in good running order. It's a good idea to schedule this in early fall, before you have to turn on your furnace, to give you time to schedule any furnace repairs that need to be done. When you decide to have your furnace tested, the inspection should include:

·         Start up and shut down capabilities test

·         Carbon Monoxide Test

·         Examination of the heat exchanger for cleanness, damage, corrosion, cracks and other defects

·         Volts and Amps test

·         Examination of the heat exchanger for cleanness, damage, corrosion, cracks and other defects

·         Assessment of main burner and pilot for cleanness, ignition of main burner and safety controls, for proper operation and correct setting

Call Rapid Cool Mechanical today!