Crockett Texas Professional Furnace Tune Up Services
Having your furnace serviced regularly is just as important as having your car’s oil changed on schedule. Parts of the furnace can easily wear out quickly if you don’t maintain them. They will lose on performance and get filthier, and they might start to malfunction. Even if your furnace is making odd noises or showing any other worrisome symptoms, regular tune-ups are important to keeping your family warm and safe all winter.
What does a furnace tune up cover?
Whether you are using the furnace to keep the temperature stable or you’re relying on the heat during freezing temperatures, sudden breakdowns are painful. In the tune up of a furnace, a professional technician will conduct an inspection of its parts and repair damaged areas to help the furnace last for a longer period of time. By regularly having your unit inspected, you can keep it from breaking down, experiencing problems, or needing to be replaced. In addition, they can ensure that your furnace runs more efficiently and save you money all winter long.
During a tune-up, a professional will:
- test the safety and limit switches
- pilot system and/or electrical components
- recalibrate the thermostat
- clean the major components of the furnace
- lubricate the mechanical parts
- check for system leaks and tears or gaps in the ductwork
- test the heating elements
Why is a tune-up necessary?
There are far more compelling reasons to have your furnace cleaned regularly than simply keeping it looking nice. Clean furnaces simply run more efficiently that dirty furnaces. Simply having the air flow filter replaced and the coils cleaned periodically will improve your furnace’s operating efficiency which in turn can reduce your energy bills.
One critical step in a furnace tune-up is having the pilot system tested. When the fuel is not burning off completely, it can result in dangerous carbon monoxide levels, which can have a detrimental effect to your health and well-being. You can find out if your furnace is likely to emit this dangerous gas by contacting a certified professional.
Tune-ups not only save you money on your energy bills, they can also save you money in the long run by preventing expensive repairs over your unit’s life. When you don’t properly maintain your unit, you’ll need to repair it more often. Your furnace will have to work much harder if the parts are dirty or ineffective. At some point, you’ll learn that some parts are more expensive to repair and you’d be better off replacing it instead.
While no attention is given to the furnace when it is not used, you need to attend to it as part of early prevention steps before the season when it will be used. If you maintain it well, a furnace should have a life span of between 15 and 20 years. Depending on how much you use it and other factors, a furnace can last up to 40 years, with proper maintenance and tune-ups.
If your furnace is still under warranty, you may need to give it regular tune-ups to keep the warranty active. Many manufacturers will only repair or replace a furnace that’s under warranty if the homeowner can show that all scheduled maintenance has been performed. While your furnace may be running smoothly now, having it tuned-up can save you money on costly repairs.
How should homeowners maintain their furnaces between tune-ups?
In most cases, a furnace doesn’t require a lot of maintenance between tune-ups, unless something breaks down or needs to be repaired. Here are some ways you can keep your furnace as efficient as possible until its next tune-up.
Changing your air filter on a regular basis is a good way to help maintain your furnace’s efficiency. Unfortunately, if your filter has dirt, this can be problematic. It can cause very slow air flow, putting strain on the parts. This forces the unit to work much harder than it actually needs to in order to achieve the same results. For these reasons, homeowners are advised to change air filters at least every three months, especially if they have pets. Filters are critical not only for the efficient operation of your furnace. They also help reduce toxins, particles, and allergens, helping your family breathe better in your home all year long.
Don’t try to control the flow of air through your home by closing off certain cents, as that puts too much strain on your furnace and could result in mechanical damage. Another unforeseen consequence of closing off vents is the promotion of mold growth. You’re not going to save money by closing vents if you end up having to replace your furnace sooner.
Make sure that the area where your furnace vents to the outside of your home is not obstructed by debris, such as animal nests, that can restrict air flow. The best time to check for these issues are during the changing of the seasons. This check can also be done before calling a technician for repair if these problems occur while the furnace is running.
