Though you may think your furnace isn’t that important if you live in Houston, the truth is that it plays a much more significant role than you realize in the year-round comfort of your home.
Maintaining your furnace requires just as much thought and care as the outside condenser unit. You might not realize it, but your furnace plays an integral role in cooling systems too!
Why Furnaces and Maintenance Are So Critical
Maintaining your furnace is one of the most essential appliances in your home, so make sure it runs optimally all year round. With proper upkeep, your furnace can last years and provide reliable heating when you need it most. With proper care, however, maintenance will help extend its lifespan considerably.
Why are we discussing furnaces at the start of springtime? Glad you asked–here’s why:
Your furnace isn’t just for heating; it also contains the blower that moves air through your ducts–both cooled and heated. If that blower malfunctions, you could end up without cooling at all.
Additional Reasons Why Preventative Furnace Maintenance Is Essential:
- Safety – Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if there are issues with how your furnace uses natural gas to generate heat. So you must have it serviced at least twice a year to guarantee everything functions as intended.
- Efficiency – A well-maintained furnace will run more efficiently and last longer than one that’s not, leading to lower energy bills for you. Preventative furnace maintenance helps keep costs down by ensuring your furnace is performing at its full potential.
- Dependability – A properly maintained furnace is less likely to break down when you need it most. By having regular checkups and keeping up with repairs, you can ensure your furnace will be ready when winter comes around.
Top Two Essential Furnace Tips From AIRTEAM–Houston HVAC Pros
With these two essential tips, you can keep your furnace running efficiently year-round and avoid unexpected breakdowns.
Tip #1: Change Your Filter Regularly
One of the most essential steps you can take to maintain your furnace’s performance is changing its filter regularly. A clogged or dirty filter restricts airflow, forcing your furnace to work harder and less efficiently. Make sure to check and replace your filter monthly, or better yet – join our MVP preventative maintenance plan and let us take care of all that for you!
Tip #2: Schedule Preventative Furnace Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your furnace in optimal working order, and one of the best ways to do that is by scheduling regular maintenance. Our MVP preventative maintenance plan can help identify potential issues before they become major ones and also keep your furnace running more efficiently.
At scheduled furnace maintenance appointments, our technician will inspect and clean all major components of your furnace, such as burners, heat exchanger, and blower. They’ll also check all other vitals like vent system condition to identify potential safety hazards or areas where your furnace could be causing inefficiency with Houston HVAC system. This inspection helps identify any potential safety issues or areas where repairs could be necessary.
After an inspection, the technician typically performs a tune-up on your furnace. This can help restore some lost efficiency and enhance performance overall. You must never attempt this tune-up yourself – only trained professionals should work on furnaces.
An In-Depth Look At A Furnace Tune-Up
A tune-up is more than simply servicing the furnace unit itself. Your home’s vents and registers play a critical role in optimizing furnace efficiency; over time they may become clogged with dust and debris, restricting airflow and making your furnace work harder than necessary. That is why regular checkups of vents and registers are so important for maintaining optimal furnace performance.
Other services that may be included in a tune-up as needed:
Cleaning the Burner Assembly
If your furnace is making unusual noises or not heating as efficiently as before, it could be due for a burner cleaning. A technician will:
- Begin by disabling the power to your furnace. Afterward, they’ll take off the access panel to access the burner assembly.
- Utilize a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to thoroughly remove any dirt or debris from the assembly. Be sure to get into all crevices and tough spots.
- Once everything is clean, they’ll assemble everything and reconnect the power.
Examining The Blower Motor And Belt
If your furnace starts making unusual noises, it could be time to inspect its blower motor and belt. Over time, these components may start to wear out, requiring them to work harder to circulate air. A simple inspection by one of the AIRTEAM technicians can determine if these parts need replacing.
Monitor Carbon Monoxide Levels
Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas, colorless and odorless. It can be produced when your furnace burns natural gas, so that’s why having a carbon monoxide monitor in your home is so important.
Carbon monoxide monitors come in two varieties: those which measure the amount of CO in the air and those which measure it within your blood.
If you have a monitor, make sure to check it regularly and confirm it’s working properly. If the reading rises above 50 parts per million (ppm), open your windows and doors for ventilation inside your house and contact either your utility company or us to come service your furnace.
Even in Houston, HVAC Systems Rely on Furnaces–Become an MVP Today!
Don’t be fooled into thinking your furnace is only necessary during mild winters in Houston; its performance plays a major role in keeping your HVAC systems running optimally. As we’ve already shown, Houston HVAC systems depend heavily on an efficient furnace for optimal performance.
Becoming an MVP member ensures that your entire system is constantly monitored and kept running at peak efficiency. Sign up today and protect your investment.
