Fall is on its way, and winter is not far behind, which makes now the time to make sure your furnace is up to the task. Early fall is the best time for furnace maintenance, and a little do-it-yourself know-how, along with an appointment with a certified technician, will ensure a warm house and manageable heating bill during the months ahead.
A clean, well-maintained heating system is a big money-saver, and can lengthen the lifespan of your furnace as well as making it more efficient. The cost of annual service is significantly less than the cost of running a poorly maintained system or, worse, finding yourself in need of a furnace replacement.
Most homeowners can tackle several maintenance tasks themselves, with no special skills and only a few common tools, including a socket wrench set, four-in-one screwdriver and shop vacuum. Tasks you may be able to complete (after you’ve turned off the furnace) include:
- Changing the filter
- Vacuuming the burner
- Cleaning the blower
- Cleaning the pilot
- Testing the fan belt
- Oiling the bearings
- Cleaning the flame sensor
Some of the more involved maintenance procedures, however, should only be performed by a certified technician. These include any adjustments to the burner or pilot light, which are potentially dangerous, and can damage your furnace if attempted by anyone without training. A technician also can test the overall efficiency of your system, including ductwork.
Right now, before our technicians get busy, is a good time for furnace maintenance. To schedule an appointment, and to learn more about how you can heat your home more efficiently, please contact us today at Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning. We’ve been proudly serving the Fresno area for 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Fresno, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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