It’s November – and we all know what that means…It’s officially OK to start talking about the Holidays! It’s just beginning to cool off outside, which means it won’t be long before your furnace is put to work warming your home. Before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins, it’s important to have a certified technician take a look at your furnace annually for inspection and maintenance.
Furnace manufacturers and HVAC companies both recommend annual inspections and maintenance on your furnace. If you look over the warranty on your furnace there’s probably a portion stating that damage caused by “improper maintenance” is not covered under warranty.
Also, maintenance is the only way to detect and fix any issues BEFORE the furnace quits working in the middle of winter forcing you to schedule an emergency service call during the holiday season.
Can I inspect my furnace myself?
Good news, you can! Bad news, unless you’re a certified HVAC technician you probably don’t know how. You have to be pretty knowledgeable about HVAC systems in order to perform a proper furnace (or boiler) inspection. Inspections include things like checking the static air pressure, testing the gas pressure, conducting an amp-draw test on the blower motor, checking/cleaning the blower wheel, checking and analyzing combustion gasses and comparing them to the unit specifications, checking the burners for proper ignition, burner flame and flame sense, etc. If you are unsure how to perform tasks such as these, it’s probably best to let a professional handle it.
The general life expectancy of an older furnace is about 10 years. Newer furnaces in homes today last between 15 and 20 years, assuming proper maintenance is performed on a regular basis. If your furnace is reaching (or passed) this age range you should begin searching for a replacement.
If you are having a problem with your furnace or are looking for a second opinion, visit our website or call us at 281-367-5267 for a free estimate. If you need to schedule an annual maintenance inspection and tune-up for your furnace, check out our specials.