Yearly HVAC Maintenance Guidelines

Now that the air starts to get cold, you know it’s time to get your home ready for the cooler months ahead. Your heating system is crucial to maintaining a cozy, warm environment. A well-maintained furnace delivers the comfort you want while using a reduced amount of energy. Regular inspections also make your system less likely to break down and help extend its life span. These are just a couple of examples of how year-end HVAC maintenance can save you time, money and inconvenience. Here’s what needs to be on your checklist before winter happens.

Schedule HVAC Maintenance

To keep your furnace in optimum condition, consider reaching out to a professional HVAC technician to conduct furnace maintenance every year. The preferred time to schedule this is in the fall before contractors become swamped with calls during the busy winter months. But, if you miss that window on the calendar, it’s still advantageous to conduct furnace maintenance no matter what the season.

Your heating and cooling professional’s HVAC maintenance checklist should include the following:

• Look at the thermostat settings: We all desire an efficient HVAC system, and this includes your thermostat. During a maintenance tune-up, the technician ensures your thermostat is reading the temperature properly and engaging your furnace at the proper times.
• Tighten the electrical connections: Verifying that all electrical connections are working correctly is essential. Loose wires can create a higher electricity draw, potentially reducing the life of your system’s components and resulting in a safety risk.
• Measure the motor voltage and current: This step allows the technician to decide if the motor is operating within the recommended parameters, helping to protect against motor failure and unnecessary energy consumption.
• Lubricate moving components: Friction reduces energy efficiency. Your technician lubricates all moving parts to minimize resistance, reduce wear and tear, and bring down your energy bills.
• Examine the condensate drain: air conditioning units, condensing furnaces and whole-house humidifiers send condensate down a drain as they run. This line must be clear of obstructions to protect against water accumulation and potential water damage. Examining the drain offers peace of mind that your utility closet won’t suffer water damage.
• Check the system controls: This involves verifying the furnace starts, runs and turns off according to the manufacturer’s specifications, ensuring safety and dependability.
• Inspect the ignition burner assembly: This feature is responsible for igniting the burner. A technician examines the assembly to make sure it’s clean and operating properly.
• Check the heat exchanger: The heat exchanger transfers heating from the fuel to your home’s air. A crack could bring carbon monoxide into your home, so thorough examination is a fundamental step on the HVAC maintenance visit.
• Clean the burners: In the long run, burners can get covered in dust and debris that impedes performance. A comprehensive cleaning ensures they function efficiently and safely.
• Look for gas leaks: Monitoring for leaks is fundamental with gas heating systems. A leak can be dangerous and should be addressed immediately.
• Evaluate the gas pressure: Ideal gas pressure is essential for optimal furnace function. Pressure that’s too low or too high can upset system efficiency and the temperature inside your residence.

Maintenance Steps You Can Do Yourself

Here’s how to keep your furnace working properly between professional HVAC maintenance tune-ups:

• Install a clean air filter: A dirty filter can put stress on your home’s HVAC equipment. Examine the filter every 30 days and exchange it when it appears dirty to increase efficiency and extend your system’s life span.
• Inspect your thermostat settings: The Department of Energy (DOE) advocates setting your thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees when you’re at home and awake in the winter. Then, set the temperature back 7 to 10 degrees while you’re not home or sleeping at night to save up to 10% on your heating costs.
• Clean the air registers: Dust covering your registers can restrict airflow, so vacuum the grilles routinely to maintain good air quality. Then, make sure furniture, rugs and curtains don’t cover your return or supply vents to ensure correct system balance.
• Reverse the ceiling fan: Set your ceiling fans to spin clockwise during the winter months to force warm air down from the ceiling to where you will enjoy it.
• Seal drafts: Look for leaky windows and doors. If you feel drafts, seal them with caulk and weatherstripping to keep the cold from getting in your home and decrease your furnace’s workload.
• Evaluate your attic insulation level: An insufficient insulation level in your home’s attic results in heat loss. Add insulation if it’s needed to keep heat in the home and cut down on your energy costs.

Choose Fras-Air/General Service Experts for HVAC Maintenance in Hillsborough

Fras-Air/General Service Experts is happy to take care of your home comfort needs. We make sure you have peace of mind with our comprehensive HVAC inspections, fast solutions and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Our ACE-certified technicians are known for the way they go above and beyond. You can rely on Fras-Air/General Service Experts to make a significant difference in your comfort and home enjoyment this winter with furnace maintenance in Fras-Air/General Service Experts. Reach out to us at 908-448-2154 today for help {fortifying your home against|getting your home ready for|preparing your residen