We hope you’re having a lovely autumn, enjoying the beautiful weather and fall festivities. But we also hope you don’t forget to prepare for winter. After all, it won’t be long before the cold winds start blowing. What’s at the top of your fall to-do list? It should be furnace maintenance! It will make all the difference. Here’s how.
Cleaning
To begin with, your maintenance technician needs to get the heating system spotlessly clean. It’s gathered a lot of dust over the course of the past year! This job must be done by a professional because in order to get all the nooks and crannies clean, some parts of the system must be completely disassembled.
Removing dust and grime has a few benefits. First, without blankets of dust acting like insulation, components like the motor won’t be at such a high risk of overheating. Second, wear and tear will be reduced, because grit won’t be scratching away at the parts of the system. Finally, with everything clean, it will be easy for your technician to closely inspect all the components.
Inspecting
When a small problem develops in a heating system, like a loose screw or wobbling fan blade, it’s very easy to fix it if it gets caught right away. If it’s left to continue loosening, it can lead to much bigger problems. That’s when you might end up hearing strange noises, needing furnace repairs, or having a total heating system breakdown!
With the system sparkling clean, your technician can check over each and every component. Anything that is loose or out of place will be secured properly into position. Anything that is wearing out can be replaced. This is a big part of the reason why routine furnace maintenance can reduce the need for repairs over the course of the coming winter by up to 85%!
Testing
Your heating system, regardless of whether the main energy source is electricity or gas, will definitely have some electrical components. These need to be tested. Major problems can occur if electrical connections come undone, if the motor isn’t drawing the right amount of power, or if the thermostat is miscalibrated. Problems with electrical components can even be a fire hazard.
It’s also critical to test the gas lines and pilot light if you have a gas-burning furnace. This will prevent serious risks like gas leaks and carbon monoxide contamination, so you and your family will be safe and warm all winter.
Lubrication
When a system has moving parts, such as fans and motors, they rub against one another. This creates friction, straining the system, using excess energy, and contributing to overheating. To keep the friction to a minimum, lubrication is necessary. It must be reapplied each year during maintenance so the system stays in good condition and doesn’t waste energy.
Now that you know a bit more about the process, you can see exactly why routine maintenance is so useful in preventing furnace repair in Joliet, IL. Schedule your maintenance now!
Call J&A today, Sleep-tight tonight!