Since most furnaces are hidden behind doors and garages, many homeowners forget about giving them even the most basic maintenance. A properly maintained appliance not only saves you money as it runs more efficiently, but it also lasts for a long time. According to furnace repair services providers, there are plenty of ways in which you can keep your appliances in top shape. Some of these ways include:
Undertake physical inspection
Observation is one of the most effective ways of identifying issues with your appliance and avoid incurring colossal repair bills. Start with switching off the appliance and using a flashlight, inspect the exterior of the appliance.
Be on the lookout for loose parts across the outside housing or heat exchanger. If everything checks out, run the appliance and observe it. Look out for unusual sounds or vibration.
For peace of mind, inspect your furnace once a month. You can examine by yourself or hire a professional to help you out. Regular inspection of the appliance gives you peace of mind that everything is running correctly. It also helps you to avoid being caught by surprise when the appliance stops working in the middle of the night, and you have to hire an expensive emergency appliance repair expert.
Clean the appliance
During the inspection, it’s common to find the air filters and coils dirty. Clean the air filters, but if they are too dirty or damaged, you don’t have any other way out, other than to replace them.
Air filters play a vital role in determining the quality of air in the house. When they are dirty or not working correctly, they allow stale air in the house. As mentioned, inspect them. If you can clean them, go ahead and do it. If they are too damaged, get new ones. High-quality filters not only filter the air better, but they also last for long. Top-quality air filters also allow you to clean them—you don’t have to dispose of them whenever they get dirty.
Also, remember to vacuum the coils using a brush attachment. When doing it, remember to switch off the appliance to avoid hurting yourself. Coils are highly sensitive; therefore, you should be gentle with your cleaning. If you aren’t confident in your skills, consider hiring an expert to help you out.
Recalibrate the thermostat
The thermostat controls the activation of the furnace. When it’s running accurately, it saves you money and gives you peace of mind, but when it’s not running properly, you end up having a hefty monthly bill.
At least once a month or when you notice your electricity bills going up, test the thermostat settings. Verify that it turns on when it reaches its set temperature threshold. If it’s not working as expected, recalibrate the thermostat. If the thermostat is too old or damaged, consider replacing it.
When investing in a new unit, take your time to find one that is of high quality, and you can easily program it virtually from your mobile phone.
Take a look at the drain system
As furnaces convert cold air to warm breezes, condensate comes about. Moisture from the air drips into the drain system of the furnace evaporating from the pan and moving along the home’s drainage pipes. At least a few times a year, take a look at the drain system for any sediment that might have built up causing a blockage and water damage.
A properly functioning appliance should have a clear drain because the condensate constantly drips as the system works. If you find condensate there, clear it. If it comes about again, consider inspecting the lines for any issues they might be having.
You can hire a professional to help you out. If there are issues with the drainage system, fix it so that you can have peace of mind that everything is running optimally.
Tune-up the appliance
Regardless of how well you maintain your appliance, you need to hire a furnace service Arlington VA professional at least once a year to tweak the performance of the unit so that it can function like brand new. For you to get the most from the professionals, ensure they are certified and experienced in handling your appliance.
