Heating System Maintenance To Do Before Winter

Heating system maintenance is usually done in the latter part of summer or fall. It may not seem like an important job at the time, but when the weather turns cold, you'll be glad your furnace is tuned up and ready to keep you warm. Here are some aspects of heating maintenance to know about.

Make Sure Ducts Aren't Leaking

Ducts are easy to forget about, but they need to be checked occasionally. If heat blows out a gap or rip in a duct, your house won't warm up as it should and your furnace runs longer than it needs to. That leaves you chilly while driving up your power bill at the same time.

Leaking ducts can usually be repaired by sealing the crack or gap. A duct that has a lot of damage may need to be replaced entirely.

Ensure The Furnace Is Clean

Gas furnaces get dirty easily because they collect both dust and soot. Cleaning out the furnace isn't difficult or too time-consuming, and it's an important part of heating system maintenance. Cleaning the furnace also includes changing the filter. When your furnace parts are clean, they work efficiently and are in less danger of breaking down in the winter.

Test The Thermostat

Sometimes your furnace may not work properly, even though all the parts are okay. In that case, the thermostat could be to blame. Your heating system maintenance technician may check the thermostat to make sure it's calibrated, free from dust, and sending the right signals to the control panel. If there's a problem with the thermostat, a wire may need to be replaced. If your thermostat is old, the entire thermostat might need to be replaced with a new and updated model.

Check The Gas Lines And Carbon Monoxide Monitor

The maintenance technician may also want to check the gas lines and carbon monoxide monitor for safety issues. They can even check the amount of carbon monoxide in the furnace to look for leaks. If carbon monoxide is present, that could mean the heat exchanger is cracked, and that needs to be addressed before winter arrives.

Heat exchangers usually aren't repaired, they're replaced instead. If your furnace is old, you may need to replace the entire furnace instead of spending money on an expensive heat exchanger. Also, when you have the annual tuneup done on your heating system, it's a good time to change the battery in the carbon monoxide monitor so you know the battery is good and ready for another winter of monitoring your furnace.