A fall furnace inspection is a necessity to ensure that your heating system is running safely, reliably and efficiently this winter. If you're like most homeowners, you rely on a skilled HVAC professional to tackle this vital maintenance that keeps your heating costs under control and catches small issues before they become expensive problems.
Here are some of the many tasks a heating expert should cover during an inspection:
- Tightening electrical connections and checking the terminals and wiring for corrosion.
- Examining the fuel lines and connections for leaks to prevent harmful fumes from escaping.
- Cleaning and inspecting the blower assembly to assure adequate airflow and increase reliability.
- Lubricating the blower motor to prevent friction that increases energy consumption and shortens its life span.
- Testing for separations or cracks in the heat exchanger that can leak lethal carbon monoxide (CO).
- Checking the fuel burner and flame sensor, and cleaning both to ensure efficiency and safe operation.
- Testing the current and voltage going to the motor to prevent overheating and decrease the risk of fire.
- Checking for proper thermostat calibration and fan control accuracy to maximize heating efficiency and comfort.
- Inspecting the vent system and flue to ensure that combustion fumes are exhausting properly.
- Checking for proper function of the system's safety controls, including the high limit switch.
- Testing the accuracy of the startup cycle to verify that the furnace comes on, runs and shuts down as expected.
- Changing or cleaning the furnace filter to maintain energy efficiency and protect against damaging dirt build-up.
You can boost comfort, safety and energy savings by performing some basic furnace maintenance tasks after your professional inspection:
- Test batteries in smoke detectors, CO detectors and the thermostat regularly.
- Check for accumulated dirt on the furnace filter once a month, and replace it when necessary.
- Add a couple drops of oil to the blower motor oil cups periodically.
- Make sure the ductwork dampers are switched over to the heating season setting.
To schedule a fall furnace inspection in the Route 495/128 area of Massachusetts, contact us today at Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning.
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