Do Gas Furnaces Require Annual/Routine Maintenance?

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Do Gas Furnaces Require Annual/Routine Maintenance?

Yes.

They.

Do.

A good analogy is going to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned and checked. Do you HAVE to do it every year? Maybe not, but when the alternative is an extremely painful toothache the annual checkup sounds like a pretty good deal. The same principle applies to a furnace that stops working during a Chicagoland cold snap. You’re going to be pretty darn uncomfortable in your Steger, IL & Lake County, IN home until the problem is fixed.

A furnace has several moving parts, electrical components, and elements exposed to extreme heat. Standard wear-and-tear is inevitable. Merts Heating & Air Conditioning also reminds you damage caused by a lack of maintenance or improper maintenance can void your manufacturer warranty.

HVAC maintenance

We are asked many times what this means? In other words, what does our Merts technician do during a furnace tune-up? Here’s a partial list:

  • Check the vent system for any blockages or leaks
  • Analyze combustion gases compared to manufacturer specifications
  • Examine blower access door to make sure there’s a tight seal
  • Check fresh air intake grills and louvers for any blockages
  • Inspect heat exchanger for corrosion and/or cracks
    • Note: A cracked heat exchanger is a leading cause of carbon monoxide leaks
  • Examine burner for proper ignition and flame to assure proper combustion
  • Clean any debris from the blower wheel
  • Test the blower motor

 

HVAC maintenance vs HVAC tune-up

As far as Merts is concerned these terms are interchangeable, but you will find contractors who play word games with their terminology. Here are some terms you may have heard, “safety check,” “tune-up,” “basic tune-up,” “complete tune-up” “certification,” and “checkup.” Make sure you ask questions to make sure you’re receiving the comprehensive services listed above. Sometimes the different terminology is used to disguise a visual “once-over” inspection with true preventative maintenance.

Changing filters

Homeowners are not sufficiently trained to perform comprehensive HVAC tune-ups, but they can still play a role. Everyone agrees the key component in HVAC maintenance is changing your filters regularly. This is something most owners can do themselves. If you have any questions your technician can show you how to do it during his or her next visit. If you haven’t had your furnace serviced, now is a great time to call Merts Heating & Air Conditioning to make the appointment. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.