Getting ready for what can often be a harsh fall season in Nanaimo, British Columbia means making sure your heating system is ready to keep your home warm and cozy through the often cold and damp weather. To do this, you’ll need to take a few steps to ensure the machine is efficient, reliable, and safe. One of the most important steps in preparing your HVAC system this fall is to schedule preventative maintenance with a professional heating and cooling technician.
What Happens During Professional HVAC Maintenance?
When you schedule HVAC maintenance, your technician will look closely at your system to ensure it is ready for the months ahead. The technician may make adjustments and tune your machine as needed and might recommend scheduling repairs to prevent failures in the near future. Preventative maintenance should be scheduled every year to enjoy the maximum benefits of the service.
Visual Inspection
Your technician may begin by visually inspecting your system. They will look for signs of damage, excessive wear, and anything else that seems out of place and that could cause issues within your heater. Problems spotted early can help eliminate emergency calls later on. Many times, your technician can make small repairs while at your home for maintenance. Other times, you may need to schedule a repair visit but can do so before you need your furnace if you schedule maintenance well ahead of the onset of cooler weather.
Lubrication of Moving Parts
Some parts and components inside your furnace move to create heat as your machine operates. These components may require lubrication, which helps protect them against damage caused by friction. Your technician knows which parts should be lubricated and will ensure they are properly greased to guard against wear and tear.
Clean Off Dust and Debris
Dust and dirt can settle inside your furnace, leaving the machine dirty. Your technician will wipe this dust and debris away from the unit, helping create more efficient working conditions. Never attempt to clean the inside of your furnace on your own. Your technician knows how to handle the different parts of the machine without causing damage.
Inspect Electrical and Gas Components
Your electrical wiring should be securely connected and free from fraying and other damage. Your technician will make sure all electrical connections are intact to prevent loss of power, electrical shock, or fire. Gas lines are also inspected, ensuring they are secure. Gas leaks can cause serious health consequences and could lead to explosions.
Test For Odd Sounds
Your furnace should operate rather quietly, though you may be able to hear the motor and fan while it is producing heat. The technician will turn on the furnace and listen for any loud, banging, or clanging noises that could indicate a malfunction.
Check For Unusual Odors
Your furnace should never produce an odor, so if you smell something from your furnace or vents, it requires further investigation. The technician will observe for any abnormal smells while the furnace is running.
Ensure Proper Airflow
Home comfort relies on sufficient airflow from your furnace. The technician will check that you have hot air blowing from all the vents in your home. If you aren’t getting proper airflow from the furnace, the technician may investigate further. The furnace may not be providing enough force to move the air through the ducts to the vents. However, more commonly you’ll find issues within the ductwork preventing hot air from reaching the vents. The technician may inspect your air ducts, looking for erosion, holes, gaps, and obstructions. If the furnace isn’t the problem, you may need to schedule ductwork repair, replacement, or cleaning.
Calibrate Thermostat
If your thermostat isn’t reading the temperature correctly, you may struggle to keep your home warm without cranking the dial to concerning levels. Your technician will test the thermostat to ensure it is correct and make adjustments as needed. The technician may recommend moving the thermostat to a different area if it is located near a vent or heat-producing appliance to prevent inaccurate readings.
Benefits of Preparing Through Annual Maintenance
Proper maintenance for your furnace can mean a world of difference in your home’s comfort this fall. Rather than struggle to stay warm and shell out tons of hard-earned money, play it safe and schedule preventative service.
Decreased Stress on Your System
When your furnace and heating system is tuned and in optimal shape, your machine won’t struggle to keep up with heating demands. You’ll get reliable heat without adding damaging strain to your system.
Lower Risk of Breakdowns
Spotting warning signs of failure and malfunction early, before they stop your system from producing heat, means you’ll have a lower risk of having to call for emergency repairs. You’ll enjoy uninterrupted warmth and save money on repair bills that can be quite costly, especially after normal business hours.
Improved Energy Efficiency
A furnace working under optimal conditions will consume far less energy than one struggling to heat your home. You’ll keep energy usage much lower when you clean and tune your system before the winter months reach us.
Lower Utility Bills
Decreased energy consumption obviously means lower heating costs. You could see a dramatic difference in your utility bill after maintenance, especially if you’ve neglected to tune and clean your machine previously.
Extended Life of Your Heating Unit
With routine maintenance, you could see extra years of heating from your furnace. Maintenance helps reduce damage and excessive wear and tear on your machine and could help it live to the far end of its life expectancy. Over the course of your homeownership, you could save one or more full replacements by scheduling annual preventative maintenance.
Better Indoor Air Quality
The technician wipes away dust and debris from your machine while performing maintenance, keeping these contaminants from entering your system and blowing through the vents. Coupled with regular filter changes, you’ll be able to breathe easier inside your home. Ask us about our indoor air quality solutions today!
Nanaimo HVAC Maintenance Specialists
At Twin Peaks Plumbing, Heating & Gas, we are dedicated to helping you maintain comfort in your Nanaimo home. Cool and damp weather can make this especially tough, so you need a furnace you can count on. Our HVAC technicians perform skilled, in-depth maintenance to ensure your system is ready.
Additionally, we are standing by to help with all your heating and cooling needs. Our technicians perform diagnostics and repair services when your system fails and can replace your furnace or air conditioner when the time comes.
We also have a trusted team of professional plumbers to tackle your household plumbing needs. We offer plumbing repairs and installations, drain cleaning, sewer and septic services, and water heater repair and installations. Count on us for all your heating, cooling, and plumbing needs and we’ll help make sure you maintain comfort and convenience in your Nanaimo home.
Be ready for the fall weather by scheduling comprehensive HVAC maintenance with our expert professionals today.
