Why Is Heater Maintenance So Important?
Heaters cost a lot of money to operate and even more to repair when they break down. It is in a homeowner’s best interest that a heater be working safely, efficiently, and reliably.
Heater maintenance services from a licensed HVAC contractor can help a homeowner be sure that their heater is not posing a threat to them or their property, is saving money by running at peak efficiency, and is not likely to break down in the near future. For homeowners looking to save money in the coming cool season, a heater maintenance visit is the way to go.
What Does Heater Maintenance Mean?
Heater maintenance is a service offered by most heating and air conditioning contractors. Often it comes in the form of a membership that is paid to the contractor in exchange for certain services related to their heating and air conditioning system. If memberships are not offered or not desired by the customer, most HVAC companies offer tune-up services to carry out the same work.
During heater maintenance or tune-up visit, an HVAC technician will inspect and maintain a heater by:
- Checking the thermostat
- Lubricating motors and bearings
- Cleaning the burner and blower
- Inspecting belts and ductwork
- Tuning the burner
- Changing clogged filters
After a maintenance visit or tune-up, the homeowner can expect the heater to be ready for the next heating season. If potential problems are found by the technician, they can be addressed preemptively before they become an emergency.
Fall Is The Perfect Season For Heater Maintenance
As temperatures drop, homeowners will fire up their furnaces for the first time this season. Turning on a furnace for the first time shouldn’t be a stressful event. If there is any question about a heater’s ability to do its job then fall is the best season to schedule heater maintenance.
Scheduling heater maintenance in the fall gives the homeowner some insurance against emergencies and breakdowns that could occur later in the season. Heater maintenance visits give the homeowner an idea about the health of their system so they can know what to expect from it in the upcoming months and subsequent years. Inspections in the fall also help homeowners save money by ensuring that their heater is operating efficiently.
Steps To Maintain The Heater Between Visits
While a heater only needs to be maintained professionally annually, there are steps that homeowners can take to help prolong the performance of a heater. Just like with an air conditioning system, heaters need to have the filters replaced on the same schedule. Dirty filters starve the furnace of air and prevent the proper distribution of heated air. Dirty filters also allow dust to build up inside of ducts, burners, and blowers. The dust can lead to a loss of efficiency or it could even result in a fire hazard if dust is allowed to accumulate inside the burner.
Closely monitoring utility bills is key to knowing when a heater is operating efficiently. It is good to get in the practice of watching heating and cooling bills throughout the year. Inefficient HVAC systems are like dripping faucets. It may not seem like much is being lost but the extra added costs of inefficiency add up to hundreds of dollars per year. By watching bills closely, homeowners will know when it’s time to schedule a heater maintenance visit.
About Alliance Expert Services
Alliance Expert Services has been providing professional heating, cooling, and electrical services in Oklahoma City for 30 years. Their expert technicians arrive on time and ready to tackle whatever HVAC or electrical issues you may be facing. Quality workmanship is always guaranteed and every service is competitively priced. Give them a call today to get annual heater inspection and maintenance.