Santa Ana, CA Professional Furnace Tune Up Services
Regular furnace tuning is just as critical as a car’s oil changes. Without regular servicing, furnace parts will wear out more quickly, become dirtier, lose their efficiency, and could lead to an annoying and unexpected breakdown. Even with no indications of a current or potential problem, it’s important to your family’s health and safety to have your furnace serviced regularly.
What does a furnace tune up cover?
If families use the furnace for comfort from cold or rely on heat at freezing temperatures, breakdowns that happen all of a sudden are a pain. When it is tuned up, the expert examines all its parts to see if there is anything that needs to be repaired or replaced. These check ups can help in averting sudden malfunctions, recurring problems, and periodic replacements. This also helps it to continue running efficiently and give the homeowner savings on his or her heating bills.
During a tune-up, a professional will:
- pilot system and/or electrical components
- test the heating elements
- check for system leaks and tears or gaps in the ductwork
- lubricate the mechanical parts
- clean the major components of the furnace
- recalibrate the thermostat
- test the safety and limit switches
Why is a tune-up necessary?
When all the parts inside the furnace are thoroughly cleaned this does more than help it to look good. A clean furnace simply has greater operating efficiency than a dirty one. The unit will be more efficient when the professional has replaced its air flow filter and cleaned its coils.
Another step that is important in tuning up a furnace is to have the pilot system tested. When 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.
Tune-ups don’t only save you money on energy bills but also in costly repairs that they may prevent from occurring. Being proactive about periodic maintenance helps prevent costly repairs. Filthy or unusable parts can make the furnace work harder and break down sooner. At some point, you’ll learn that some parts are more expensive to repair and you’d be better off replacing it instead.
You probably give your furnace little thought until it breaks down on a frigid day, but it’s wise to schedule a service call before the temperature begins to drop in the fall. You should get about 15 to 20 years of use out of a well maintained furnace. A furnace may even last up to 40 years, depending on how heavily it’s used.
If your furnace is still covered by warranty then you need to have it serviced for regular tune-ups in order to use it. Most companies undertake the process of repair or replace a unit under warranty, only if it has undergone all check-ups scheduled previously. Even a furnace that seems to be operating properly can benefit from a tuneup that could end up saving the homeowner the expense of a major repair at some point.
How should homeowners maintain their furnaces between tune-ups?
A furnace typically needs only a little maintaining unless there is something really wrong with it. There are things the homeowner can do, however, to help the furnace last as long as possible.
Regular air filter changes help to maintain a furnace’s efficiency. When there is a filter that is dirty this can lead to a strain on the mechanical parts of the furnace. Experts recommend swapping out your furnace’s air filter every three months or so, especially if you’re a pet owner. A filter will not only improve the furnace’s function, but it will also help to reduce toxins, particles and allergens so that your family is breathing cleaner air in your home throughout the year.
You’re mistaken if you think that it makes sense to try to control airflow and temperatures by closing certain air vents because doing that can force your furnace to work harder, which can result in damage to your furnace. Vents which are closed may also cause mold growth in the ducts. Vents which are closed don’t usually save homeowners money in the long run as the furnace can wear out more quickly because of this.
If your furnace vents to the outside of your home, make sure that there are no debris or other blockages blocking airflow from this area. The changing of seasons is recommended to be an ideal time to check for these issues. This is the first thing you should check when your furnace isn’t running properly, before you call in a professional.