It’s That Time of Year: Furnace Maintenance You Need to Take On This Month

Get Your Furnace Up and Running for Cold Weather 

Folks east of us may not believe it, but Southern California weather can get cold in the wintertime. And who wants to deal with a furnace breakdown on the chilliest night of the year? Take a few minutes now to take a look at your heating equipment, and you’ll save yourself hassles around the holidays or worse, in the middle of winter. We’ve compiled a brief furnace checklist below. If you’re having problems or unsure what steps to follow next, get in touch with us here at Air-Tro. Inspection, maintenance, and repair are major parts of what we do, and our seasoned technicians and highly trained service professionals are always happy to help. 

So, without further ado, let’s look at what’s involved.

Filters: is it time for new ones? 

Even if your filters handle both your AC and your furnace, it may be time to swap them out now. This is probably one of the most important tasks you can do to preserve the life of your equipment and enhance your indoor air quality. Luckily, new filters are relatively inexpensive, and available both online and in your local big box hardware store. Remember, a dirty air filter forces your system to work harder doing the same job, costing you more in energy bills and wearing out components faster than they would otherwise. 

Check your vents and ductwork. 

Especially if you have little ones, it’s very common to also have blocked air intake grilles, with furniture or toys blocking vent openings. Look to make sure your vents and air intake grilles are free of any blockages or impediments to their use. It’s also very important to make sure your vents are open, even in rooms you don’t use in your home. Otherwise, air will pool in the ductwork around the closed vent, lessening airflow to the rest of the house and costing you more in energy bills. 

How’s your thermostat? 

Even if you don’t call in a professional, make sure to evaluate your thermostat when going through any furnace maintenance checklist. Does it need to be calibrated? Have the batteries been recently replaced? How responsive is it to the ambient temperature around you? A faulty thermostat can result in problems with furnace equipment, not to mention indoor comfort. And if you have an older model, you may consider replacement with a newer, smart thermostat for greater convenience and money-saving features. 

Blower motors and heat exchanger inspections

This may be outside your comfort zone as a homeowner, and good reasons to call in the professionals. A typical furnace maintenance inspection from Air-Tro will involve a visual inspection of the heat exchanger and testing the amp draw for your blower motor, as well as evaluating the furnace burner and flame sensor for any problems. 

If you’re having problems or unsure what steps to follow next, get in touch. Inspection, maintenance, and repair are major parts of what we do, and our seasoned technicians and highly trained service professionals are always happy to help. 

 

Is it time for a furnace inspection? Get ready for cold weather and call the experts at Air-Tro today. (626)357-3535.