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Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements - In the commercial environment maintenance is a never-ending cycle from winter to summer. In contrast, in the residential environment sometimes maintenance is neglected. Neglected until there is a problem with either the heating or cooling system.
Why wait for something to happen when there some simple things you can do to make sure your heating and cooling run at optimum levels. Are gas furnace maintenance agreements worth it?
For those who do not have the skills or time to perform the basics themselves then it is recommended that you subscribe to a maintenance agreement. This can be done through a professional HVAC company. Of course, it always recommended that a professional do the work. They are most familiar with HVAC systems and can do the job quickly and efficiently. Additionally, they can spot things that could go wrong over the course of the heating or cooling season.
The next element is safety. An experienced HVAC technician understands the safety of gas furnaces and working around electricity. This knowledge not only helps while doing the maintenance, but it also helps for the working operation of the gas furnace. This is important, especially on those cold nights when you need your furnace to operate safely to keep you and your family warm and toasty.
The Basics of Maintenance - Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements
Before doing any maintenance on heating or cooling systems always observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. This includes turning off power and securing and gas valves to prevent gas from leaking. As a homeowner or novice, you need to use common sense and do not go beyond your skill level. Always follow the manufacturer’s basic instructions say about basic furnace upkeep if the furnace manufacturer’s instructions say anything about the basics.
Also, remember there are several different types of gas furnaces and each different type of gas furnace will have different needs from one gas furnace to another. For example, a standing pilot gas furnace will need some different maintenance than an electronic ignition furnace. You will also need to be familiar with gas furnace components. Gas furnace components will vary from a gas furnace to gas furnace. Finally, maintenance plans for gas furnaces typically include the following from an HVAC contractor for service:
HVAC Contractors Checklist - Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements
Check motors, capacitors, and lubricate motors as necessary.- Check amp draws (current) for all electrical loads in the system to make sure readings are normal for electrical loads. Any abnormal readings out of range from normal will indicate a possible bad component or a motor. A component that may fail soon.
- Change filters, clean coils as necessary. A gas furnace with a split system air conditioner and using the same ductwork needs to have the evaporator checked. Checked to ensure the evaporator is clean and will not impede airflow.
- Check electrical connections. Loose electrical connections can be big problems in the future including being a fire hazard.
- Check and clean the flame sensor – whether it is solid-state or thermocouple or thermopile this is important. A small percentage of trouble calls in the winter include either a dirty flame sensor or a dirty flame sensor. This could have been prevented if regular gas furnace maintenance was performed.
Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements | Maintenance Checklist Continued
- Check for a cracked heat exchanger. Furthermore, this is important and could prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Check gas lines for rusting and corrosion which could cause a leak over the heating season. If this happens the gas company can red tag your meter and lock it off. The gas company will only unlock it after the gas line has been repaired by a gasfitter.
- Check and adjust gas pressure as necessary.
- Check and adjust the pilot or ignition flames as necessary.
- Ensure the air conditioner is shut down properly for the heating season.
- For condensing furnaces ensure that the drain is free so you will not have problems with the furnace condensation drain and water leaks.
- Check ductwork for airtight integrity.
- Test all safety controls for the furnace.
- Make repair recommendations to keep the system running reliably and smoothly. Reliably and smoothly over the course of the season and life of the gas furnace.
Help Insulating the Home While doing Maintenance
Conclusion | Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements
Good upkeep can prevent future problems especially the big problems that end up costing a lot of money to repair. Ensure you have a good heating system maintenance plan in place today and avoid costly repairs. However, more importantly, to avoid being cold in the winter. Gas furnaces and heat pumps cover the majority of the heating systems in use today.
There are other heating systems that require annual maintenance including boilers both gas and oil systems. These include forced air oil furnaces and boilers, geothermal heating systems, and electric heating systems. Lastly, as always we recommend a professional HVAC technician do the upkeep on your system.
Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements
Gas Furnace Checklist and Tips for Periodic Upkeep: Gas Furnace Maintenance Agreements
