While the winters may have their own natural charm and beauty, the cost associated with the running of the heating systems can be a matter of concern. When the temperatures outdoor slip below the freezing point, you would like to run your heating furnaces and systems round-the-clock to maintain the warmth of the interiors and the comfort of your home. Regular maintenance is a prerequisite for efficient operation. The thermostat, distribution system, heat source and other aspects and components of your heating furnace may be a cause of a problem if they are not maintained regularly. The shortfalls may lead to poor efficiency of the heating system, lower the lifespan of the heating device, be a cause of uneven temperatures, and may also cause other drawbacks.
Regular heating maintenance will ensure that your system is always optimized towards maximum efficiency, contributes positively towards attaining the least energy expenditure and has a desired lifespan. Here are some tips that will help you maintain the efficiency of your heating furnace and system, and derive the immense benefits of this punctuality and effort.
- Decrease The Temperature Of The Water Heater
The indoor areas are mostly air-locked, and you do not need to heat the furnace water at very high temperature for getting the desired warmth level inside the room interiors. In most cases, it has been found that the water heater temperature can be lowered by as much as 20 degrees. Obsessive and unwanted heating would lead to wastage of energy, thereby causing an increase in energy bills.
- Do Not Allow The Air Leaks To Occur
There are numerous causes of air leaks. They mostly occur in the attics, crawl spaces, basements and even in other areas of the home through the holes and cracks. You can fill and/or cover the cracks/holes by using the requisite materials or through the tapes. Warm air will not escape your room interiors henceforth and you won’t be required to run the heating furnace unnecessarily.
- Replace The Furnace Filters
Improper and irregular cleaning of the furnace filters increases the load on the heating machine, which subsequently draws more power for the same heat output. Debris, dirt, pollutants and other substances are the common cause of clogging of the furnace filter pores. It is important for you to clean the filters and replace them at optimum time intervals, to get clean air within the home and to lower the energy bills.
- Home Insulation May Be Required
Home insulation may be necessary for all homes that have not been constructed to derive maximum energy efficiency through their architectural elements. For insulation, you can hire the specialized contractors, who will use the right materials, and possess the expertise and knowledge to insulate the ceilings, windows, doors, and other home areas and components. You can yourself use the double glazing, sealants, and other materials for insulating your home yourself and require lesser heating maintenance.
- Let The Sunlight Reach The Room Interiors
Sunlight can be a major source of free heat, which you need the most during the winter. Open up all the curtains and let the sunlight reach the various parts of the home. This might be one of the most cost-effective measures for heating a home.
- Buy A Programmable Thermostat For Your Heating Furnace
A programmable thermostat lets you control the heat outflow of your heating furnace, to a much greater extent. You can draw greater heat during the night time and lesser during the day, which will help you control the electricity spent. Because the temperature varies during the 24 hours of a day, you do not want your heating furnace providing you the same heat output all the time.
Apart from these tips, you should also hire a leading heating contractor and maintenance service that should provide to you cost-effective maintenance in a more specialized and expert way.
Bonus content#1
The Importance Of Pre-Season Maintenance On Your Heating System
A single professional heating and/or HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) repair and maintenance session can keep your air modulation units working optimally for at least 6 months to a year. There are immense benefits of regular and scheduled heating maintenance and repair. Some of these may include saving of electricity, long life of your heating system, prevention of accidents and even preservation of your life. Gusting and freezing winter winds are threatening to life itself, in case your heating unit and the system fail in times of extreme winter. Because a maintenance service finds all the minor problems early on, it ensures that major problems and consequently heavy expenditures do not occur. This the main reason why a professional and certified heating maintenance recommends the scheduling of a maintenance process of your heating unit before the winter season starts. Below are some of the benefits of preventive and pre-season a heating unit repair and maintenance program.
A Long Life For Your Heating System
During a heating maintenance session, the professional and trained techies will do the necessary cleaning and replacement, and ensure that minor problems do not exaggerate. For instance, scheduled and regular cleaning of the filters alone ensures that the other parts of the system including heaters do not undergo unnecessary stress. Some outdoor-placed components of your system may be exposed to thawing, freezing, and refreezing, and ice also falls on them. An expert heating repair and maintenance provider will ensure that the system is restored to its best state and is exposed to the least number of external and internal threats.
Reduced Expenditures
When the issues with an HVAC or a heating furnace are found out early, major expenditures are prevented, which is a huge cost saver for you, the owner. Tuning/oiling of the various parts and components ensures that wastages are reduced and there is no undesired and unnecessary burden/strain on the machine components. Therefore the output of your heating units increases and they function optimally while consuming the least of electricity.
Ensuring Safety
There have been incidences when the heat exchanger and other components and parts of a heating unit have undergone cracks or short circuits. The use of such systems has resulted in fire, electrolocation, and even fatal incidences. Another important issue to address is the emission of carbon monoxide, which in high concentration is a fatal gas and may be produced in heating furnaces that use a particular kind of fuel.
The efficient HVAC and heating furnace repair services carry out a complete pre-season inspection and maintenance process of your heating unit, following their checklist. They hence can find out all the abnormalities and issues early on, and ensure that your heating system does not turn to be a threat for you or your family members.
Signs You Need A Heating Maintenance Service Now
You must get your heating furnace system and unit inspected and maintained every fall. This will ensure that you can spend the freezing winter season in warmth and coziness and any undesired incident or happening does not occur during the whole season and even beyond. Some signs that show that your heating systems require an immediate heating maintenance service include:
No or less than sufficient heat coming out from the blower.
- Abnormally increased electricity bills with no other relevant and evident cause, except that your heating unit is consuming more than usual electricity.
- Unusual noises like grinding and banging that some internal part of the heater has been damaged. Any other kind of undesired and abnormal noise also shows that there is some issue with your heating unit.
- An unusual amount of dust coming out from the blowers, which ensures that the air filters need a replacement.
- The system has aged and is being used for class 15 or 20 years.
No matter what your concerns are, the best HVAC and heating repair and maintenance services have for you the one-time and long-term service plans offered at affordable rates, and a hassle-free service delivery process as well.
Bonus content#2
5 Essential Heating Maintenance Checklist Items for Winter
Adequate maintenance of any equipment begins with regular vigilance and care. The heating systems that provide warmth at our place are extremely dependable, and like any other mechanical appliance, it requires care and attention from time to time. Due to regular cleaning and maintenance of vital components, it will boost the system to run perfectly and maintain indoor air quality. In other words, if the integral parts of the unit such as thermostat, blower, burner etc. are well maintained, it will extend the life cycle and retain the efficiency of your filter system.
Here, we have some fundamental heating maintenance Checklist items that you can conduct before winter arrives with frigid winds.
- Filter
Changing the filter is vital because a dirty filter negatively affects the overall air quality at your place. If the filter gets covered with dust, dirt, and other debris, all the small particles will block the filter and the air will reverse back into your home.
- Burner
Generally, when the heating system isn’t used in summers, dust and dirt accumulate on it. You can vacuum the exterior of the unit but make sure the system is switched off. The common faults related to burners are contamination and misalignment. Inspect the burner mechanism which might have slots or wings in it, aligned to each other. You shouldn’t actually clean the burner yourself as it is a delicate element of the unit. However, make sure you free the burner from debris that could disrupt the path and flow of gas and air.
- Vents
Vent channels supply fresh air to move freely throughout the home. Experts suggest that there should be 18 inches of space between the vents in your house and the furniture. Sometimes, things like rugs and curtains obstruct the vent, so be careful to keep the path clear. Regular cleaning and maintenance is the best way to keeping your heating and cooling vents free of dust and debris. First, shut off the power source and then, you can vacuum the vent cover with a brush accessory.
- Thermostat
If your heating system begins to act weird, you should test its thermostat’s wall and inner connection. Further, to check its working order, you should switch on the furnace and check how long the thermostat takes to respond. And if the thermostat is creating heating or cooling issue, then call in the professionals.
- Blower
Furnace blower is another powerful part of the heating system which ensures the efficient running of the unit. Experts suggest that it should be oiled once a year. A well-oiled blower also prevents annoying squeaking sounds coming from your heater when it’s switched on.
Need for heating maintenance professional
Although varied elements of the heating unit can be maintained at home, yet an expert is needed to detect the weak point. So, before the arrival of frosty winter season, it is noteworthy that you seek for good heat maintenance and hire their services to stay in comfort zone in your sweet home. An authorized specialist should inspect your HVAC system at least once a year because routine inspections help to spot emerging problems before they collapse and cause urgent situation. They will test the working of all essential parts because if you maintain it well, it will keep your heating system in order. In fact, the maintenance service provider will give full-service with oiling, replacement, wiring inspection, and others.
