Pros of getting a winter furnace tune up

A lot of us don’t always think of tuning up our furnaces, but there are some advantages in doing it.

One of the biggest bonuses of getting your furnace tuned up is the peace of mind you’ll get in knowing that you will identify any existing issues and have the opportunity to fix them before they become an issue.

Being able to tackle issues before they happen will give you some comfort in the cold winter months in that there will be less chance of a breakdown when it’s most inconvenient.

Another benefit of doing a winter furnace tune up is that, just like all other mechanical equipment, it will extend the life of your equipment. Annual furnace preventive maintenance ensures that all of the elements of your furnace are working properly.

Another very good benefit to perform regular maintenance on your furnace is that you could identify any splits or leaks from gas carrying components, which could put you and your family at risk.

Will a furnace tune up void my warranty?

A lot of times, it’s actually the opposite. Some manufacturers’ warranties actually call for regular annual HVAC preventive maintenance in order to maintain validity. When you are looking at buying a furnace, check the warranty to see what your obligations are in relation to preventative maintenance.

Sometimes, if you neglect to do any regular maintenance on your furnace, you could actually void the warranty. Information and knowledge about your responsibilities is key to avoiding any costly surprises should your furnace break down.

Can I inspect my furnace myself?

If you’re like a lot of people in Winnipeg, you want to take the initiative to save a few bucks when you can. There’s nothing wrong with that. In the case of inspecting the furnace yourself, however, there are a few things to keep in mind.

For example, you’re probably not a licensed, professional HVAC company. So, it’s likely that you don’t know everything you should know about safety, processes, etc. To be absolutely sure that you’re not missing anything, you should think about hiring a Winnipeg heating professional.

But there are definitely a few things that you can do to make sure your furnace is working properly.

Inspect the air filter

Furnace air filters need to be regularly inspected, especially after any type of renovations where extra dust particles can enter the home’s air space.

A dirty air filter can result in:

• Your furnace running more than it should
• Restricted airflow
• Reduced efficiency
• Increased energy bills

A good way to tell if your furnace air filter needs replacing, apart from visually seeing that it’s crusted in dust, is to hold it up to a light. If there is no light getting through, it’s time for a new furnace air filter.

A good idea is to record the date that you exchange the air filter, so you can compare the length of time to what it says on the packaging.

Check your thermostat

Make sure that your thermostat is set to heat and not to cool. Sometimes, kids can play with the buttons or we can accidentally switch it over without realizing it.

Your thermostat might have a battery indicator. If it doesn’t, make sure to always put fresh batteries in every so often. Most times, your thermostat will notify you that the batteries are running low before turning off.

At the first sign of colder weather when you go to turn on your thermostat to heat, increase the temperature a few degrees above the house temperature to make sure that your furnace turns on and is working properly.

Open your air vents

There is a misconception out there that if you close off some vents to certain rooms, you’ll save money. Be wary of this. In fact, you could be doing more worse than good.

If you close off too many vents, you are essentially creating more pressure in the furnace, which could lead to malfunctions, as it needs to work harder to heat your home.

Malfunctions may include:

• failed blower motors
• mold or mildew in your air ducts
• damage to the compressor
• a burst heat exchanger (and we all know how important the furnace heat exchanger is)
• other problems

What does a furnace tune-up include?

• Complete inspection of your furnace
  • Your Winnipeg heating company will do an inspection that includes a full visual and point-for-point examination on all of the working parts of the furnace and ducting infrastructure. Experienced heating technicians will be able to detect signs of wear and damage.
• Lubrication
  • Any mechanical parts that require lubrication to reduce friction should be lubricated.
• Pilot and gas pressure regulating
  • A tune up will make sure that your pilot and gas pressure are working as they should be.
• Filter replacement
  • Your tune up should also include a filter replacement, which you could buy yourself, or have included in the cost of the service.
• Written assessment
  • Make sure to get a summary of the work that was done and the results from that work. If anything happens in the future, you have that information to look back upon.

How should your furnace perform after a tune up?

Our heating and cooling systems lose efficiency as they get older. It’s a natural occurrence. Loss of efficiency could be due to:

• Dust and dirt buildup
• Wear and tear
• Drain or burner buildup

By performing regular maintenance, you are prolonging these symptoms from occurring. Additionally, tune ups can increase the energy efficiency by up to 30%, depending on the situation.

The air you breath in your home will be cleaner, as the air is going through a clean air filter. Your utility bills should also lower a bit since your furnace is now operating optimally and less hard.

Time to tune up your furnace? Give us a shout!

Dean’s Plumbing & Heating is your furnace tune up specialist in Winnipeg.

Fill out the form below to get your furnace tuned.