To keep your heating system running, you can’t just have it serviced when something is wrong. For proper performance, you need to be proactive. Maintenance must be done every year. The amazing fact is that as long as you get that done, you can prevent 85% of the heating system repairs you would otherwise need! And there are other benefits, too.
You’ve certainly heard that maintenance is helpful. Maybe you’ve even heard that heating tune-ups can prevent expensive repairs. But do you know why? We’ll explain the details.
Cleaning
The first step in any heating system maintenance process is to get all the nooks and crannies completely clean. This isn’t a job for you to do yourself, for a couple of reasons. First, there are intricate assemblies that need to be taken apart for cleaning and then reassembled precisely. Second, there are safety risks. HVAC technicians are trained to work on this equipment without risking injury to themselves or to anyone else.
Once the cleaning process is done, there won’t be any grit or grime to cause wear and tear and create problems. There won’t be blankets of dust covering components like the blower fan motor, acting like insulation, causing overheating, which can damage or destroy the motor. And with all the components perfectly clean, your technician will have a much easier job with the next steps in the process.
Inspecting
Every part of the system will be meticulously checked over by your HVAC professional. It’s easy for tiny things to go wrong over the course of a winter’s hard work heating and then a summer spent collecting dust. Minor components might be out of alignment, or wearing out. Your technician will secure everything properly and replace anything that’s too worn.
If you start using your heating system this winter with existing problems, however small, the problems will only get bigger. A loose screw could fly free and damage other parts of the system. A worn belt could fall apart, causing a total breakdown. Catching these issues early will ensure that those larger repairs won’t be needed.
Testing
Whether gas or electric, all heating systems have some electrical components, which means they all require a testing process. Your technician will check that the thermostat is accurately calibrated, that the correct amperage of power is getting to the motor, and that all wiring is tight and secure. This is for safety as well as to prevent electrical problems.
Lubricating
It does not require much lubricant to keep the moving parts of the heating system gliding smoothly. Just a few drops, applied precisely, will do the trick. But the lubricant does wear away, so it needs to be reapplied by your technician each year during maintenance. That will cut down on friction and overheating, further reducing the risk that anything will need repair in the coming year.
Don’t worry about furnace breakdowns! Get a heating system tune up in Washington, DC.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or ask any questions you have about your heating system.