Routine tune-ups are incredibly important to get the most from your furnace, including the best efficiency and the longest life span. However, it’s easy to put off heater maintenance or skip it if you don’t understand what is included in the service.
Visual Inspection
Your technician will start with a visual inspection of your unit, with particular focus on the following areas:
Furnace Exterior
Your technician will start by checking the unit’s exterior, looking for evidence of corrosion. A little rust may not be concerning and could result from damp conditions in your basement. However, excessive rust could be an indication of an exhaust issue. If your furnace is not venting properly, the heat and gases leaking into your basement can accelerate the rusting process.
Internal Components
Once they check the outside of the unit, they’ll pull off the access panels and begin inspecting the interior parts of the unit. They’ll look for signs of excessive wear and parts that need replacing. These may include things like worn fan belts and failing capacitors.
Heat Exchanger
A heat exchanger is a metal conduit between the combustion chamber and the blower that works to dispense heated air from the furnace into your home. Over time, the exchanger can crack from the metal constantly heating up and cooling down. Your technician will check for cracks and other damage because if the exchanger is compromised, it can lead to inefficient heating and even carbon monoxide leaking into your home.
Cleaning, Tightening and Tuning
After the technician inspects your unit, they will let you know if any issues need to be addressed immediately. If your furnace has passed the inspection, they will begin the cleaning and tune-up.
Circulating Fan Wheel
Your technician will clean all the dust and grime off the blower fan wheel to ensure proper circulation. They will also balance the wheel so that it spins smoothly.
Blower Motor
Your technician will lubricate the blower bearings to reduce friction and make sure they rotate correctly. A problem with the motor’s bearing can cause the blower to overheat and fail prematurely.
Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is another place that will collect debris. Your technician will clean the exchanger to ensure air can flow freely.
Burners and Flame Sensor
Both the burner and flame sensor will get dirty from the byproducts of the burning gas. Your technician will clean both of these and adjust the burners as necessary to get an efficient burn.
Electrical Connections
There are many electrical connections throughout your system that can loosen over time from the vibration of the system. Your technician will check them and tighten any that have come loose. They will also check for frayed wires and replace them as necessary.
Condensate Drain
If you have a high-efficiency furnace, it produces condensation as part of its normal operation. The moisture collects in a drain pan and is then channeled into your drainage system through a condensate line. Your technician will clean the pan and clear the drain line if necessary to prevent water from backing up and causing damage to your heating system.
Testing
Once your technician completes the tune-up and cleaning of your system, they will start testing it. They’ll run a complete heating cycle to ensure that each cycle stage initiates at the right time. They will also recalibrate your furnace to make sure it is working at its maximum efficiency. An efficient furnace will ensure your home stays comfortable and reduce your monthly energy costs.
What About Filters?
Clean air filters ensure air can flow through the system effectively. During maintenance, your technician will replace filters if needed. However, this is a task you should do between professional visits because HVAC filters need replacing at least every three months, and homeowners usually only have maintenance performed once a year. It is a good idea to inspect your system’s filters once a month. This is because the three-month timeline is only an estimate. Factors like having pets that shed a lot of hair and how often your system runs can impact how quickly your filters become clogged.
Contact the Professionals
At MD Air Conditioning & Heating, we are a locally owned company, and each of our technicians has at least 16 years of in-the-field experience working in the San Antonio, TX area. We install, repair, and maintain heating and cooling systems. In addition, we provide indoor air quality and commercial HVAC services. Contact us to schedule your furnace maintenance appointment with one of our certified technicians today.
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