In much the same manner, preventive maintenance for your furnace should be viewed as an inevitable but acceptable part of owning it. Tiny problems can build up year after year and go unnoticed, until the furnace breaks down. Getting an annual preventive-maintenance check alerts you to any problems, keeps your operating costs low and gives you reassurance that your furnace is not going to cause problems in the dead of winter.
Here are a few steps that a qualified technician will perform during routine preventive maintenance:
- Replace the Filter. Oil furnaces have filters that catch contaminants in the oil. Changing it keeps the flow steady and prevents constriction or a complete clogging of the oil flow.
- Gas Input. The flow of gas into the combustion chamber must be balanced correctly. If it isn't, your furnace can be starved for fuel or wasting it.
- Damper Controls. A correct damper draw keeps the waste gases flowing out the flue or chimney and prevents them from being drawn back into the home.
- Fuel Mixture. The mixture of fuel and oxygen keeps your furnace at optimum efficiency. An unbalanced mixture lowers efficiency and wastes fuel.
- Lubrication. The fan motor is a moving part that requires good lubrication to circulate heat properly.
- Cleaning. Cleaning the burner and fan blades will ensure proper operation and keep your furnace running efficiently and smoothly.
Other checks will include thermostat calibration, valve operation and removal of combustion-chamber deposits.
A preventive maintenance check is a small price (like an oil change) to pay to keep heating bills low and head off future, costly repairs. Winter is quickly approaching. If we can be of help, contact the expert technicians at Rodenhiser. No question is too small for us to answer. When you have concerns, call us; we're always happy to help.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventive maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.
Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Medway MA. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!
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