Tampa, FL Professional Furnace Tune-Up Services
Just like a motor vehicle that needs oil changes in order to function optimally, the same can be said for a furnace. Regular tune-ups are just as vital for a furnace. Without regular maintenance, furnace parts wear out quicker, get dirtier, lose their efficiency, and can cause a sudden and inconvenient breakdown. Whether your furnace is making a strange noise or is working fine, a tune-up can still help keep your family safe and warm.
What does a furnace tune-up cover?
Breakdowns are inconvenient and uncomfortable, whether the furnace is used mainly for comfort, or to keep temperatures above freezing. Annual maintenance will check all parts of the furnace and repair any damage, extending the life of the unit. Such examination helps to prevent it from having recurring problems. The professionals can get your furnace running smoothly again and save money on your energy bill throughout the winter.
During a tune-up, a professional will:
- test the safety and limit switches
- test the heating elements
- recalibrate the thermostat
- check for system leaks and tears or gaps in the ductwork
- clean the major components of the furnace
- lubricate the mechanical parts
- pilot system and/or electrical components
Why is a tune-up necessary?
Cleaning the inside of a furnace is more than just making it aesthetically pleasing. When you have a cleaner furnace then it will run more smoothly compared with a dirty one. When you clean the coils and replace the airflow filter this can lead to a lower energy bill.
Another crucial task in a furnace tune-up is the testing of its pilot system. When the fuel in it is incompletely burned this can be a health hazard for the family. A trained professional can check your furnace to make sure there is no danger of emitting this deadly gas.
Regular maintenance of furnace units will allow for not only savings in energy bills but long-term savings in money by helping one avoid the costly repairs. When maintenance is not done to the unit this can lead to more repair needs. The furnace will work harder and thus wear out faster when it has dirty or ineffective parts. Some parts eventually may get too expensive to fix and the whole unit may need to be replaced.
While no attention is given to the furnace when it is not used, you need to attend to it as part of early prevention steps before the season when it will be used. When you maintain them properly, furnaces can give you 15-20 years of use. Some furnaces with regular tuning can last between 30 and 40 years depending on the frequency of use and the other environmental factors.
If your furnace is still covered by warranty then you need to have it serviced for regular tune-ups in order to use it. Often manufacturers will only cover the cost of repair or replacement, if there is proof of regular servicing. Although your furnace seems to be running fine now, a checkup can preempt any damage and eventually save thousands of dollars for you.
How should homeowners maintain their furnaces between tune-ups?
When there is nothing broken in it, furnaces typically require only little maintenance in between its tune-ups. But there are some things that you can do with it so that its life will last longer and it will continue working efficiently.
By regularly changing the air filter you are helping to maintain an efficient furnace. The airflow drops due to dirty filters, which can put the furnace and its mechanics under a lot of strain resulting it to work harder to produce the same levels of comfort across the home. It is advised to change an air filter at least once in three months, especially if you have pets in your home. Filters help to filter out toxins, allergens, and other particles so that there can be clean air in your home.
Even if closed air vents control the airflow ant the temperature, they can put a lot of stress to the heating system and cause it to break eventually. Another problem you might face is mold growing in the ducts due to closed air vents. Closed vents will also not save you money as furnaces will wear out faster when they are closed.
Ultimately, if your heater vents to the outside of your home, guarantee that flotsam and jetsam, critters, or different blockages aren’t limiting wind current from this region. When the weather changes, it is the ideal opportunity to look for these sorts of problems. On the off chance that your heater is having issues when running, you can likewise check for this before calling the specialists for a fix.