Nothing is more unpleasant on the first chilly day of the season than turning on your furnace only to be greeted by a blast of cool air. This is not a way to start a winter season. Luckily, the vast majority of these malfunctions are easily avoidable. All it takes is a little planning in the months leading up to winter to ensure that your furnace continues to work correctly.
The furnace is one of the items in your home that you do not notice when everything is functioning properly. It can be in your basement or closet, humming along at its little heart’s satisfaction. Then suddenly one wintry morning in December, it announces that it has had enough and no longer cares to function. By this time, all the HVAC specialists in your community are swamped with last-minute calls, and you are left bundled under blankets until the issue can be addressed.
Why Furnace Maintenance Matters
The simplest thing to do is to contact Salmon HVAC for a furnace maintenance service. You may be wondering, why all the fuss? Why put effort into getting your furnace prepared for winter if you can simply do nothing and wait? Furnace care and maintenance can be thought of as your “winter car tune-up.” You would not drive your vehicle for an entire year without getting the oil changed and having the tires inspected, so the heating system should be done as well.
Lower Energy Bills and Improved Efficiency
When your furnace is operating as it should, you will not only feel warmer, but you will also pay less for your heating costs. A report has found that a poorly performing furnace might raise your energy consumption by 30 percent or more. This is money vanishing into the air because of unclean filters, worn-out components, or inefficient operation. Routine maintenance also identifies and resolves small issues before they grow into major repairs or total system failures. Routine maintenance, in other words, keeps your equipment in good working order, lowers your monthly bills, and saves you money by avoiding expensive repairs.
Safety First: Preventing Carbon Monoxide Risks
Maintenance also increases safety, which is frequently disregarded until an emergency happens. When leaks in the heat exchanger develop in furnaces that have not been adequately maintained, they can lead to deadly carbon monoxide seepage. This is a nonodorous, noncolored gas that is responsible for hundreds of poisonings throughout the winter. A quick assessment by a trained expert can prevent this from occurring.
DIY Maintenance
Check the Air Filter
This is the simplest thing you can do on your own, but it can make a huge difference in your heating system’s operation. Take out your present filter and hold it up to a source of light. It is time for a new one if you can no longer see through the filter. At least once a month, and preferably every one to three months depending on your home’s circumstances, you should examine and replace your filter throughout the heating season.
Clean the Surrounding Area
Furnaces should be accessible and have plenty of room all around them. Remove any boxes, cleaning agents, or other items that have accumulated near the furnace as part of your fall preparation. Your furnace must have sufficient airflow and clearance for security reasons as well. Open any vents and double-check that furniture or curtains are not obstructing airflow from vents as you go through your home while you’re at it.
Test It
Turn the thermostat to heat and increase the temperature by a few degrees before turning it on. Are any strange sounds coming from your furnace? You want to listen for loud banging, grinding, or high-pitched squealing. It should take your furnace a few minutes to warm up. If it takes an unusually long time for your furnace to turn on, it makes unusual sounds, or it does not produce warm air, it’s time to call a professional.
Professional Maintenance
Other maintenance tasks are best left to the experts, despite the fact that some can be done at home. If your furnace is more than ten years old, it’s a good idea to have an expert come out and take a look at it at least once a year. A qualified professional from Salmon HVAC can see elements that are not easily accessible, examine for gas leaks, check the levels of carbon monoxide emitted by the furnace, and double-check that everything is properly adjusted.
Warning Signs That Require Professional Help
Warning indications that something is wrong with your furnace are as follows: if certain rooms in your home are not heated as well as others, there could be a problem with your ductwork or blower motor. If your furnace cycles on and off more than it should, it will waste energy and potentially overtax the system. If your pilot light is yellow or flickering instead of a solid blue flame, shut off your gas and call for repair right away.
Best Time to Schedule Maintenance
Late fall or early spring are both great times to do this. However, the best time to do so is early fall, before the season’s first cold snap arrives. This means that everyone else is thinking about their furnaces at the same time, so you must deal with the HVAC company’s call rush to reach them. Schedule an appointment in September or early October instead, when you’ll have a better chance of securing a good appointment time. Set it up well before you actually need it and have peace of mind knowing your system is prepared for whatever this winter season may bring.
Prepare Now for a Warmer Winter
The best way to make sure that your furnace is ready for the winter is to start with the easy steps that are DIY and then call in the professionals to handle the more technical work that is better left to the specialists. This will not only help you identify problems early but will also have your furnace prepared and ready for the upcoming cold. Your warmer future self will thank you, and your bank account will also be happy with lower energy expenditures and emergency repair costs.
Salmon HVAC has the experience to perform your furnace tune-ups and maintenance inspections before winter arrives. They have more than four decades of experience and a strong commitment to providing the finest quality services to all of their customers. Their professional team will ensure that your furnace is ready for whatever winter has in store for you. Visit the website at salmonhvac.com or give them a call to schedule an appointment for your furnace maintenance today.
FAQs
How often should I change my furnace filter?
It is advised that you look at your filter once a month during the heating season. The majority of regular filters should be replaced every one to three months, but this varies based on your home. However, if you have pets, allergies, or cook a lot, you may need to change the filter more regularly. A filter that is unclean will force your furnace to work harder and might increase your energy costs by 15% or more.
What is the significance of a yellow pilot light rather than a blue one?
If your furnace’s pilot light is yellow or flickering, it is a warning indication that it is performing an incomplete combustion process. This can result in carbon monoxide accumulation. Shut off your gas and call an HVAC technician right away if you notice this symptom. A healthy furnace pilot light should burn blue steadily with a little yellow tip.
Why is it that some rooms are always colder than others in my home?
Uneven heating is most likely caused by airflow issues, which is the most prevalent of all issues. Ensure sure all of your vents are open and unobstructed by furniture when doing this. On the other hand, if this is not the case, you may have ductwork that is leaking, insufficient insulation, or a furnace that is struggling to distribute heat to all corners of the house. An expert assessment will identify the precise source of the issue in this situation.
Can I skip my yearly furnace inspection if my system appears to be operating correctly?
This is a risky approach to take. It is true that many serious issues, such as cracked heat exchangers and carbon monoxide leaks, are not obvious until it is too late. HVAC technicians are able to catch these hidden issues early by doing routine maintenance. On the other hand, regular furnace maintenance extends the life of your furnace and keeps it running at maximum efficiency, saving you money in the long run.
When is the best time to schedule my furnace maintenance?
The end of fall is ideal, before the first cold snap hits and HVAC firms get bombarded with calls. You will have better chances of getting a good appointment time if you schedule in September or early October rather than later. Put it up before you actually need it and have peace of mind that your furnace is prepared for the upcoming cold. Don’t wait until it’s already below freezing outside.