All residential heating systems require professional maintenance on an annual basis. The gas-fired furnace in Chandler, AZ home is no certainly no exception. In fact, taking good care of fuel-combusting appliances like this one is especially important. Not only will routine maintenance keep your heating equipment running efficiently, but it will also eliminate a number of major safety hazards.
What Your Furnace Manufacturer Has to Say
When professionally sourced and installed, gas-fired furnaces are covered by manufacturer warranties that last several years. For instance, most gas furnaces come with 10-year limited parts warranties that cover all problems resulting from defective components. They also have 20-year heat exchanger warranties that cover both primary and secondary heat exchangers throughout the entirety of heaters’ expected lifespans. Thus, if problems that aren’t the result of improper use or insufficient maintenance ever crop up, you won’t have a lot out-of-pocket spending, if any at all.
However, manufacturer warranties are mutually binding agreements. Furnace manufacturers agree to pay for replacements or repairs that they’re ultimately responsible for, but they have strict rules concerning how homeowners must care for their protected equipment. For instance, if your furnace fails prematurely and HVAC technicians find that it’s filter has never been changed, there’s a good chance that your warranty will be voided outright. One of the most important stipulations that heater manufacturers make concerning maintenance is that covered equipment must be serviced by a qualified HVAC technician every 12 months. In some instances, consumers are also required to provide proof of this service when submitting claims or as part of the claims review process.
Similar requirements also exist within home service agreements and home insurance policies that cover residential heating equipment. By scheduling yearly furnace service, you can keep all of these important protections intact so that they’re available when you need them.
The Importance of Having Your Gas Furnace’s Venting System Inspected
During operation, gas-fired furnaces invariably produce harmful exhaust gases like carbon monoxide (CO). Carbon monoxide forms during the incomplete combustion of natural gas. Both odorless and colorless, CO can wreak havoc on human health if it ever enters the living space. Worst of all, absent of working carbon monoxide detectors, residents might not know that they’ve been exposed until it’s too late.
In addition to causing nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and confusion, prolonged CO exposure can eventually lead to death. This is one of the top reasons why your furnace needs yearly service. Scheduling furnace maintenance just before the cooling season arrives is the best way to ensure that your heater’s venting system is working correctly. During these appointments, HVAC technicians look for:
- Blocked exhaust vents at the interior and exterior of the building
- Crushed or collapsed vent piping
- Indoor conditions that could lead to backdrafting
- Pest infestations
The also check for adequate vent terminal clearances and look for higher than normal amounts of condensation. Some HVAC companies additionally check and test carbon monoxide detectors and replace their batteries.
Consider the Many Benefits of Annual Furnace Maintenance
Beyond ensuring the integrity and functionality of your gas-fired furnace’s venting system, these visits will also improve the efficiency of your heater. HVAC technicians remove build-ups of dust, dirt, lint, and other debris at the interior and exterior of these units. They check for and replace damaged or missing components, and tighten up loose connections. These and other efforts ensure optimum airflow, limit furnace stress, and minimize the amount of work that heaters have to do. As such, you can expect lower energy bills, a smaller carbon footprint for your entire household, and greater home comfort overall.
Less stress and improved efficiency can also contribute to a longer lifespan for your furnace. Furnaces that never receive preventative maintenance are unlikely to provide 10 problem-free years of service. Comparatively, furnaces that are well-maintained often last for 20 years or more.
Enjoy Cleaner, Fresher-Smelling Air
Many homeowners are greeted by the pervasive and unpleasant odor of burnt dust when they first turn their heaters on for the season. If you catch a whiff of this smell when using your gas-fired furnace, this is a good sign that it’s time to have it maintained. By removing particulates that have bypassed your HVAC air filter, a furnace tune-up will leave you with cleaner, fresher-smelling air. This is good news for anyone in your household who suffers from asthma, allergies, or any other chronic respiratory condition. Taking good care of your HVAC equipment is always an effective way to improve your IAQ.
What to Expect During a Furnace Tune-up Service
Professional furnace maintenance is a comprehensive service that covers all of the tasks outlined in manufacturer warranties. When performing annual furnace maintenance, we:
- Clean all burners and heat exchangers
- Inspect and calibrate all thermostats
- Flush furnace drains and traps
- Remove, inspect, and clean the blower
- Test all safety controls
We also check for airflow obstructions at furnace intake vents, perform gas pressure testing, and verify correct manifold pressure.
Each of these efforts provides the opportunity to spot small or developing problems. By diagnosing and repairing minor issues right away, we’re able to keep them from spiraling out of control. This ensures reliable furnace performance all winter long and decreases the likelihood of sudden and unexpected mechanical failure. It can also lower your total repair costs throughout the years.
Furnace Maintenance You Can Do on Your Own
Staying on top of annual furnace maintenance is one of the best things that you can do to protect this essential home appliance. However, it isn’t the only thing that you should do. Throughout the year, there are several important maintenance tasks that you can tackle on your own. Foremost among these is regularly changing your furnace filter.
Although furnace filters provide an impressive range of IAQ benefits, these components are actually installed to protect furnaces themselves. Failing to replace yours in a timely fashion won’t just leave you with dusty, allergen-riddled air. It will also impact your furnace’s performance and set the stage for problems like overheating and short cycling.
You should check your furnace filter monthly by taking it out and holding it up to the overhead light. If light can still pass through your filter, air can pass through it as well. When air filters are heavy with grime and impenetrable to light, they’re ready ready for replacement. In most households, furnace filters should be swapped out every one to three months. However, if you have indoor pets or other ongoing IAQ concerns, you may need to perform this maintenance task more often.
It’s also a good idea to check and clean your HVAC air vents, registers, and grilles every one to three months. Much like dirty HVAC air filters, build-ups of lint-like material on these features can obstruct airflow. You can wipe your vents down with a clean, damp cloth. If necessary, you can also remove their covers and gently brush or vacuum behind them.
We’re proud to serve residents of Chandler, AZ and the surrounding cities. We offer heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality services. We also maintain an expansive selection of top-quality heat pumps, ductless mini-splits, and smart thermostats. Get in touch with Emergency Air Heating Cooling & Plumbing today to schedule annual furnace maintenance.
