Do you want to maximize the lifespan of your furnace? Curious as to what furnace maintenance entails? The best way to avoid major furnace problems is to schedule a simple check-up to ensure your furnace will work at optimal efficiency throughout the winter.
Your furnace controls the temperature by circulating warm air throughout your home while also filtering out dust and allergens to keep the air in your home or business clean. Without a routine maintenance check from a trusted Chicago heating company, such as Lakeview Heating & Cooling, a number of things could happen to your furnace that can leave you with dirty air or worse, in the cold.
These days, furnaces are meant to thrive for between 15 and 20 years. However, they won’t make it this far unless they get a little help along the way. In order for furnaces to survive as long as possible, they need to be properly maintained.
Inspecting your furnace and determine what needs to be changed or replaced
Checking the blower belt of your furnace is always a good idea. If that belt becomes loose, your furnace will not function as efficiently as it should, leaving you with higher energy bills and less hot air.
Condensation drains are another part of the furnace to keep an eye on. If condensation drains are blocked, it can cause the safety switch to shut off the furnace and leave your house freezing in the coldest days of winter. Loose, leaky and blocked ducts can also lead to many problems within a furnace if they go unaddressed.
Clear the combustion chamber
The combustion chamber is a key component in any furnace. It is in this chamber where air collides with fuel, causing a small reaction that ignites the furnace.
In order for your furnace to run at maximum capacity, its combustion chamber should be cleaned periodically. Combustion chambers are prone to residue buildup. This is because they host the small explosion between air, spark, and fuel which allows the furnace to produce heat.
This is why, every year or so, you should open your combustion chamber and clear it of any residue.
Cleaning the combustion chamber is not a remarkably difficult process. You can easily do it yourself. However, if you’re not confident in your ability to get the job done, a furnace repair technician can do it for you.
Change the oil filter in your furnace
Another key component of furnace maintenance is changing the oiler filter. Oil filters are key to the operation of any furnace. Unfortunately, they have a limited lifespan.
Oil filters generally need to be changed twice a year: once at the beginning of furnace season, and once in the middle of furnace season. Failure to do so can result in impairment and shutdown of your system.
If you need any help changing your filter, a HVAC technician will be able to get the job done for you.
Inspect the flue pipe in your furnace
Because they make use of fuel, furnaces deal with a variety of potentially toxic gases. In order to push these gases away from the homes they’re located in, furnaces utilize a component known as a flue pipe.
The flue pipe starts at the interior of the furnace, and ends on the outside of the furnace’s corresponding home.
Though flue pipes will typically remain in good shape over a very long period of time, there is a chance that they could suffer corrosion and deterioration.
Should this happen to your flue pipe, you’ll need to replace it immediately. Allowing a corroded flue pipe to continue serving its function is essentially like inviting toxic gas to make its way into your home. Any reputable HVAC technician can get the job done.
Replace the air filter in your furnace
A furnace works by pulling air into the system and through a filter to block all the dust and allergens from being released back into the air. Over time the dust will accumulate in the filter and can slow down the intake and release of air back into your home, reducing the efficiency of your furnace.
This decrease in efficiency will increase the price of your heating bill and the time it takes to heat your home in the winter. In addition to costing you money, a dirty filter will also continue to release dust and allergens into the air, leaving your family at risk for respiratory problems, such as asthma.
You should swap out your HVAC air filter on a fairly regular basis. Generally, a change every 1 to 2 months will produce the best results. However, if you have pets, you might be better off changing it more regularly than this.
Though HVAC air filters are exceedingly easy to change, an HVAC technician can help you to complete the task if needed. Whereas some air filters are washable and reusable, most of them will need to be replaced with fresh filters after they’ve been inundated with dirt.
Clean the air vents from any debris
Your HVAC air filter is vital in keeping your furnace’s duct system clean. Air filters are fabric frames that are designed to catch debris as it makes its way into your furnace. This little filter catches a great deal of the dirt and dust that try to make their way into your ducts. Unfortunately, because of this, it generally gets dirty fairly quickly.
This is why, every few years or so, we recommend clearing the debris from your vents. This involves not only vacuuming vent openings, but taking apart your vents and manually removing any debris that exists within them.
A well-maintained furnace will keep your air clean and dust free. Simple filter replacement helps increase the lifespan of your furnace while also saving you money immediately. This is a simple thing that is too often overlooked. Do yourself a favor and make a note in your calendar to check your filters every month.
Utilize Furnace Maintenance Services in Chicago
Not sure if you’re capable of maintaining your furnace on your own? Looking to make use of furnace maintenance services in Chicago? If so, Lakeview Heating and Cooling is the company you seek.
Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance
While checking filters is an easy thing to do, there are other things that can adversely impact the operation of your furnace. That is why it is important to schedule a regular maintenance check every year with a professional Chicago heating contractor. If even the smallest problem occurs and goes unnoticed or unaddressed, it can drastically shorten the lifespan of your furnace.
Our team is well-versed in the assessment and maintenance of all types of furnace heating systems. Regardless of the system you use, we’ll ensure that it’s running at optimal levels.
Most furnace maintenance issues are easily identified when you partner with a Chicago furnace service specialist. If ever there were an ideal example of an “ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure”, regularly scheduled furnace maintenance is it.
Annual maintenance checks save you money and ensure your family’s warmth during the harsh winter months. HVAC companies, such as Lakeview Heating & Cooling, employ professionals that have the experience and training to spot problems with your furnace and your entire HVAC system.
Contact us now to schedule a furnace maintenance appointment!