3 Reasons for Pre-Winter Furnace Maintenance and Inspection

If you are like many homeowners, you may ignore your home heating system until a problem occurs, then wait in the cold until the problem is repaired. However, you should have your home heating system inspected every fall before cold temperatures arrive so that furnace problems can be located and repaired before winter temperatures arrive.

During this pre-winter service, routine furnace maintenance can also be performed to ward off many types of furnace problems. Learn three additional reasons you should obtain an annual pre-winter furnace inspection and maintenance service every fall before winter arrives.

1. Prevent Gas Leaks & Home Fires

One reason you should have your home heating system inspected every year is to help keep your family safe. Natural gas-powered home heating systems can develop gas leaks that are hazardous to your family's health and all improperly maintained heating systems are fire hazards.

While gas leaks can occur when older home gas lines develop corrosion, they can also develop when gas pipe connectors become loose. Many furnaces today are connected to gas lines with flexible gas connectors that are much more prone to the development of gas leaks than traditional pipes.

While you may think that you would know if your home had a gas leak due to the strong smell natural gas emits, many small gas leaks do not emit an odor strong enough to be detected by the human nose. HVAC experts use special gas detection equipment to locate heating system gas leaks that do not produce a strong odor, so they can repair them before they worsen and emit more gas.

Improperly maintained heating systems can start home fires when motors overheat due to lack of proper airflow to them or when faulty heating system wiring comes into contact with flammable materials.

2. Save Energy

Pre-winter maintenance of your home heating system can also help keep home energy bills lower all winter long. Tasks your HVAC expert will perform to improve your furnace's energy efficiency include changing the air filter, lubricating blower motor bearings, checking duct work for holes and leaks where warm air may be escaping, and removing dust and debris from all furnace components, including blower fan blades.

Replacing your furnace air filter improves furnace airflow to reduce strain on the fan motor. This strain that can lead to the fan motor using more energy than necessary to supply heat to your home. Lubrication of blower motor bearings and removal of dust and debris from fan blades also helps keep your furnace operating smoothly to minimize furnace energy consumption.

3. Extend Furnace Lifespan

Proper furnace maintenance including a pre-winter furnace inspection every year can also help extend the lifespan of your heating system. Furnaces that are well-maintained can stay in good working condition for many years.

When regular inspection is performed, small furnace problems can be detected and repaired before they worsen or lead to larger problems that can only be remedied with complete furnace replacement. In addition, maintenance performed to reduce strain on fan and/or blower motor helps extend the life of these important furnace components.

Additional services performed during annual furnace maintenance service that can help extend the lifespan of your furnace include checking the flue for obstructions and significant soot build-up, cleaning furnace burners and replacing them as needed, and inspecting supply and return air vents.

While your HVAC specialist will replace your furnace filter during your pre-winter furnace maintenance service, you should continue to inspect your filter every month to further extend the life of your furnace. Whether you are using filters that are designed to last 30 days or 3 months, you should change them as soon as they develop a covering of dust and dirt, which may be sooner than the projected 30-day or 3-month lifespan.

Every homeowner should obtain a pre-winter furnace inspection and maintenance service during the fall before the cold winter arrives. This service offers your family many benefits above and beyond the diagnosis and repair of any known furnace problems. Contact the HVAC experts at Power Plumbing Inc. today to schedule a furnace inspection service today.