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It’s much better to do preventative maintenance than to have to deal with the aftermath of a broken furnace.
It’s easy to take your heating system for granted. When it’s running smoothly, you hardly even notice it. But if your heater isn’t working in the middle of winter because it wasn’t properly maintained throughout the year, you’ll quickly find yourself feeling chilled to the bone.
Here are a few common heating problems that will crop up over the years, all of which can be prevented through a regular appointment with a licensed HVAC professional.
Premature Breakdowns
Making sure that your furnace is well maintained will save you hundreds in potential repairs should something happen. Seasonal heating tune-ups will also extend the overall life of your furnace.
A properly maintained furnace will last two to three years longer than one that is forgotten. Small, incremental tune-ups allow you to solve small issues before they become costly problems.
High Energy Bills
Along with saving you time and frustration over major problems, regular maintenance can also bring down your energy bills significantly.
When an HVAC technician comes to perform maintenance, one of the first things he or she will do is clean parts of the furnace, such as the burner assembly and heat exchanger. Simply cleaning these parts can dramatically increase your furnace’s overall energy efficiency.
Another aspect of a safe and efficient furnace is proper airflow. A regular tune-up can help keep your energy bills low by guaranteeing proper airflow.
There are a couple of things that you can do yourself to increase energy efficiency as well. The first thing is to regularly replace your air filter. A dirty filter will restrict airflow to your furnace, causing it to work harder. Also, make sure the area around your furnace is clean and free of debris. This will increase the overall airflow to your system.
Consider getting a programmable thermostat or smart thermostat. These can significantly lower your energy bills by adjusting the temperature when you’re not at home.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas released into the air when heat combusts. Colorless and odorless, it’s unable to be detected with your five senses, making it extremely dangerous.
A furnace that is not properly maintained tends to create more carbon monoxide than one that is tuned up regularly. During a heating tune-up, the technician will inspect and clean out the combustion chamber to ensure that it’s operating correctly and safely.
Pilot or Ignition Control Problems
Pilot control and ignition control are two of the most important parts of a furnace, and the furnace won’t be able to function properly if these components aren’t in working order.
It’s important to check which type of ignition system you have in your furnace. If it’s a hot surface ignition system, then it will use a heating element based around resistance. If it’s an intermittent pilot system, it will use a high voltage electrical spark in order to ignite the gas pilot.
Help! My Heater is in Trouble
If these potential problems have you worrying about your furnace, take a deep breath and relax. Furnace problems are one of the easiest issues to prevent. Simply take the initiative to schedule a yearly maintenance checkup with Richmond’s Air. Let our HVAC professionals handle the rest.
Contact us to schedule your appointment if you live in the Houston, Katy, Bellaire or Spring areas. Our expert HVAC technicians will make sure your furnace is ready to go for the winter ahead!
