Preparing for Your Big Day

Posted on: 7 August 2020

The last thing you'll ever want to experience in your home — especially during the winter — is a heating system failure. Not only will you be stranded in the cold for an unpredictable amount of time, but you'll also have to wait in line behind other people who are most likely experiencing the same problems. 

Fortunately, a proper heating system maintenance plan can alleviate these issues by identifying and fixing problems in the offseason, rather than in the exact moment you need it the most. Below is a rundown of all the things you should have checked every year. Though some of them can be done by the average homeowner, you should hire a professional contractor to perform annual heating system maintenance so that larger issues can be spotted ahead of time.

Replace the Filter

This is something that can and should be done by the homeowner, Generally, experts agree that you should change your air filter every few months (depending on the usage and where you live); if anyone in your family has allergy or asthma issues, change it more often. Failure to replace the air filter can cause gunk to build up inside your ducts and put strain on your heating and cooling systems, spiking your energy bill and potentially causing major damage.

Check the Ductwork

If you notice part of your ductwork is broken or coated with a thick layer of soot, then you should definitely call an HVAC technician, but in many cases, this will be something you'll have to hire out. Part of a good heating system maintenance inspection is identifying potential blockages from the ductwork, blower, and furnace combustion chamber, and cleaning the inside as necessary.

Test the Thermostat

Operating as the main point of connection between your home and your furnace, the thermostat needs to be in proper working order or you won't be able to adjust the temperature as needed. A simple recalibration or adjustment may be all that's needed to ensure that you'll be able to use it properly during the winter. In some cases, a thermostat that appears to be failing may actually indicate a problem with the furnace. If it's short-cycling, for instance — a term that describes what happens when your furnace turns on and back off in less than five minutes — that can indicate that your furnace is overheating and shutting itself down. If that's the case, hire an HVAC technician to fix it immediately.

For more information, contact a company like Phil's Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc.