Is It Time for a Furnace Tune-Up?

According to the Energy Star website, fall is the ideal time to have your heating system inspected by a professional. This will ensure your system is up and running when winter hits and you need warm conditioned air on a regular basis.

A furnace tune-up is one of the most effective steps you can take towards maintaining furnace efficiency. Your furnace should be serviced by a licensed HVAC technician at least once a year. This provides the opportunity for him to verify everything is operating correctly, to perform recommended maintenance as per your furnace’s manufacturer’s instructions, and to catch and repair small issues before they become larger ones. Also, if you have a newer furnace, there’s a good chance that keeping up with your furnace tune-up schedule is a critical component in upholding your warranty protection.

Here are some of the items your technician will inspect and take care of during a typical furnace tune-up appointment.

Check the thermostat settings. He will verify that your thermostat is functioning correctly and that the temperature settings are accurate.
Lubricate moving parts. Your furnace is a machine so the more efficiently the parts can move, the less wear and tear will be experienced, and the less electricity is required to move them.
Electrical connections. The tech will look for faulty connections and measure the voltage and current on the motors.
System controls. He will run the furnace through a complete cycle to verify that it starts, cycles and shuts off correctly.
Condensate drain. The condensate drain will be checked to verify that it isn’t plugged, and that condensed liquid can drain efficiently.
Inspect heating elements. Each of the components required for fuel combustion and heat production, such as the gas pressure, gas or oil connections, heat exchanger, etc., will be carefully inspected. Any issues in this arena can cause serious health hazards, including fires and carbon monoxide toxicity.
Filter changes. If necessary, your technician will change your air filter, which increases efficiency and improves indoor air quality. You can do this yourself throughout the year.