FURNACE MAINTENANCE
What does a furnace technician do during a maintenance visit?
Regular maintenance visits from our team of heating technicians will improve a furnace’s ability to perform reliably and efficiently. Getting regular maintenance will also increase your furnace's lifecycle, giving you years of extended life. Having a tune-up in the late summer or early fall can reduce or eliminate unscheduled maintenance visits and emergency calls on cold days. Having the peace of mind that everything is ready for winter is another benefit of a yearly maintenance visit.
Our team of experienced HVAC technicians will arrive on time and have a list of items that they will use to make sure that your furnace is ready for the winter months. We’ll ask you about your experience with the heating system: Is it satisfying your heating needs? Is it making any noises? Have any noticeable odors or leaks? Then we go to work to tune up your system.
Years of experience mean that we can generally spot issues by examining the components of your furnace. We look for signs of cracks or loose connections that might be causing gas leakage or might interfere with fume venting. We also want to see if there is any dirt or debris outside the furnace that might be evidence of airflow problems. We also want to make sure that there aren’t any signs of damage to the equipment that might compromise its function or safety.
We look at the burners to see if there are any cracks or rust that could interfere with combustion. We do the same for the heat exchanger, looking also for signs of excessive build-ups of soot, which can affect heat transfer efficiency. If the furnace has a pilot light, we’ll make sure that it shows proper gas flow and ignition capability. We also look at the venting and air filters to make sure that airflow is clear for both circulation and venting purposes. Your furnace’s flame sensor and ignition system ensure that gas is turned on and off when it should, based on the communication it receives from your thermostat. We also check the shut-off valves to ensure that they can stop the flow of gas in emergencies or repairs.
Part of our maintenance work is analyzing the burning process to make sure it is working efficiently and safely. Gas pressure is checked to make sure that it’s not too high or too low for proper heating. Part of our analysis is to assess the flame characteristics to determine whether there is a potential problem with the airflow or any burner blockage. We check for soot accumulation, and sometimes, we check the exhaust gasses for oxygen and carbon monoxide levels.
With everything looking good after the inspection and analysis, we're ready to perform the cleaning and adjustments to optimize your furnace performance. We will do a thorough cleaning of the burners, heat exchanger, and flue to make sure there is no soot or dust build up. We lubricate the moving parts, like the blower fans, to make sure they are operating smoothly and quietly. If applicable, we will change out any dirty air filters to new ones to make sure that the airflow is clear enough for heating.
We run through our checklist of safety features to ensure that everything is working to our high standards for safety and performance. This includes checking for leaks, proper ventilation, and working shut-off valves. Then, we will adjust the system to ensure that you are getting maximum heat from a minimum of fuel. We’ll let you know if there is anything unusual or noteworthy during our visit before we leave. We’ll clean up the area we’ve been working in and leave it better than we found it.
Regular furnace maintenance keeps your heating system running smoothly, saves you money on energy bills, and ensures your family's comfort and safety. You can relax knowing that your furnace is ready to work throughout winter in the Greater Houston area.
Call us now to find out more about our furnace maintenance plans!
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