Gas Furnace Maintenance Schedule

One reader sent an email asking if this was really necessary.

Gas furnace maintenance schedule.

If the unit uses gas and there is a smell of gas in your home do not try to shut off the gas or turn any lights on or off. Given that most people only call for hvac service when something goes wrong you may be wondering do i really need furnace maintenance service. Heat pumps on the other hand work more like a central air conditioner than like a furnace so we won t deal with them here. Furnace maintenance is a preventive heating service that involves a thorough inspection and tune up of your system.

A dirty filter can cause excessive strain on your furnace increase heating costs and reduce the life of your equipment. Worn out parts and clogged filters that happen over time can lead to more significant equipment failures. These tips practiced regularly will ultimately keep the unit in better condition and that should be the goal of both parties. The furnace repair company should be willing to lend its expertise and guide you in maintenance steps you can do on your own to support the maintenance of the furnace.

The maintenance tasks involving the blower chamber also apply to oil furnaces. Call a professional service person. Make sure that your furnace filter has a cover over the slot ensuring an efficient return air system. Homeowner gas furnace maintenance gas furnace inspection checklist diy.

Yes you really do need furnace maintenance if you want to save money stay comfortable and enjoy some other benefits. When issues are addressed early on it s more likely that they can be resolved with minimal cost. However oil furnace combustion chambers are very different and should only be worked on by professionals. In this case do not try to fix the furnace.

Failure to change your furnace filter on a regular basis will lower the quality of the air in your home and shorten the life of your furnace. So here are some basic maintenance tasks that you can do to ensure that your natural gas or propane fueled furnace stays running in peak condition all winter. Winter s tough enough without your furnace dying or not putting out enough heat. You should see a steady blue flame.

Look look at the flames in the burner. The best place to start your furnace maintenance is with the filter. Take caution if you are performing any kind of gas furnace maintenance turn off the gas line. Natural gas furnace preventative maintenance will help avoid operating problems.

If you have a central air conditioner the cooling coil will get blocked by unfiltered dust and debris over time and will result in a costly cleaning repair or replacement of part or all of your heating and air conditioning system. If the fuse blows or the circuit trips repeatedly when the furnace or air conditioner turns on there is a problem in the electrical system. A recent blog post about fall maintenance mentioned having your furnace inspected tuned up by a qualified heating contractor annually.