For many areas, the beginning of the year means that temperatures will dip to their lowest. Because of this, it’s crucial that your furnace is working well. Here are some items to include in your furnace maintenance checklist.
Clean or Replace the Filter
One of the most important tasks to carry out on a furnace maintenance checklist is to regularly tend to the filter. Some filters just need cleaning, while others need replacing. How often this needs to happen depends on how hard your furnace has to work during the cold weather, but doing it promptly is a must. If you neglect your furnace’s filter, you’ll force it to work harder than it should and shorten the system’s working life.
Check the Thermostat
The thermostat tells your furnace to turn on and instructs it to deliver warm air at a certain temperature. If the thermostat is out of whack, the furnace can turn off or on when you don’t want it to. It can also set the wrong temperature. If you think your thermostat isn’t working the way it should, call in an HVAC professional.
Maintenance Tasks for a Professional
While homeowners can perform simple tasks, there are others that only a professional should provide. These usually occur during a maintenance visit.
Inspect the Gas Lines
If your furnace runs on gas, a technician will check that the lines connect properly. This is critical, as even a slow gas leak can make you and members of your household, including pets, feel sick. It can harm houseplants, too.
Clean the Burners
If the burners in your furnace are dirty, they won’t ignite or burn fuel properly and can even be a fire hazard. Clogged burners make your furnace work harder than it should and can raise your energy bills. In some cases, they also put household members at risk of getting sick from carbon monoxide. A trained technician will clean these during a maintenance check.
Check the Pilot Light
Whether your furnace still has a pilot light or uses electronic ignition, maintaining it should also be on the checklist. A well-working pilot light ensures that the furnace starts up and works properly whenever you need it. A technician can verify that this component is operating correctly.
Check the Heat Exchanger
Like a gas leak, a cracked heat exchanger can release deadly carbon monoxide gas. Have an HVAC professional inspect it.
Don’t wait for an emergency to give your furnace some TLC. If your furnace needs servicing, get in touch with our HVAC professionals at Dallas Plumbing & Air Conditioning in Dallas, TX.
