Wondering if heater maintenance is really all that important? You aren’t the only one. Many homeowners tend to skip out on routine heater maintenance because they don’t realize just how important it is. From reducing your energy bills to maximizing your system’s performance to satisfying your manufacturer’s warranty to reducing the risk of breakdowns, routine maintenance can make a world of difference. Continue reading to discover exactly how maintenance improves both the efficiency and safety of your heater.
What Happens During a Maintenance Appointment?
Before we can dive into the specifics about how maintenance can improve the efficiency and safety of your heater, we thought it would be helpful to provide more details about what happens during a maintenance appointment.
During your heater tune-up appointment, your technician:
- Examines each component of your system
- Runs a full safety and performance test
- Checks and tightens loose electrical connections
- Inspects the pilot light
- Tests and calibrates the thermostat
- Cleans the blower
- Checks gas connections
- Inspects burner combustion
- Lubricates all of the motor’s moving parts
- Tests airflow and ductwork
- Checks the flue for obstructions
- Examines the belts and checks for cracks or wear
- Replaces the air filter
- Checks the intake grills
- Checks the heat exchanger
How Does Maintenance Improve Efficiency?
Your heater is like your car; in order for it to run properly, it needs to be regularly inspected and tuned up by a qualified professional. Professional maintenance allows your technician to identify and resolve any problem areas before they have a chance to put serious strain on your system and reduce its efficiency. Without maintenance, your system will experience wear and tear, which will lead to different components becoming damaged or broken over time. When different components of your furnace are not working properly, it can put a lot of strain on your system and force it to work overtime in an attempt to keep your home warm.
For example, if you neglect to change your air filter, it will become clogged over time, until your system’s airflow becomes constricted. When the airflow becomes restricted, your heater has to spend more time and energy trying to bring in air that it can heat. This results in high energy bills and a higher risk of repairs and breakdowns.
Heater maintenance takes care of a lot of issues that can contribute to reduced energy performance, including:
- Clogged filters
- Loose electrical connections
- Malfunctioning pilot lights
- Dirty blower components
- Clogged or blocked intake grills
- Improper thermostat settings
- Cycling fans
- Leaking ductwork
- Malfunctioning gas connections
- Improper gas pressure
- Broken heat exchangers
According to ENERGY STAR, your HVAC equipment is responsible for around 50% of your home’s energy usage, so making sure it is functioning properly is incredibly important. Careful maintenance can prevent energy loss, minimize your energy consumption, and keep your monthly utility bills at a minimum.
How Does Maintenance Improve Safety?
An unmaintained system is at a much higher risk of damage, repairs, and breakdowns. If your system breaks down in the dead of winter, you and your family could be left in very uncomfortable and unsafe conditions until an HVAC technician can come to the rescue. Depending on the temperatures outside, you could be at risk of frozen pipes and extremely low temperatures in your home in the event of a heater breakdown.
Additionally, a lack of maintenance can result in a malfunctioning or dirty heater. This kind of damage can cause serious problems such as a cracked heat exchanger, which in turn, can result in a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide leaks are incredibly dangerous as they can result in natural gas poisoning or an explosion in your home.
During your maintenance appointment, your technician not only examines each component to ensure they are functioning properly, but they also test all safety features on your system. This provides you with peace of mind knowing any potential safety issues are taken care of during your appointment.
Schedule Your Maintenance Appointment Today!
The time for your next heater maintenance appointment has arrived. It is always best to have your Heater inspected and tuned up each fall to ensure it functions as efficiently and effectively as possible once winter arrives.
At JC Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning, our heating and air conditioning team offers comprehensive maintenance services guaranteed to maximize your heater’s performance.
When you join our preventative maintenance program, the Comfort Club, you can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- Priority scheduling
- 15% off repairs
- Annual heater inspection, tune-up, and filter replacement (in the fall)
- Annual AC inspection, tune-up, and filter replacement (in the spring)
- Regular specials and discounts
Don’t settle for anything less than the spectacular service you deserve. Turn to JC Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning for heater maintenance and rest assured your system is in the hands of the most qualified and skilled technicians around.
Call (877) 959-4240 or contact us online to schedule a maintenance appointment today!