Furnace & Heating Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
When you have your furnace broken down during the cold months of winter then it can be very uncomfortable in your home because of the cold there. In some parts of the country, if the home falls to lower temperatures, a broken heat source may be the difference between good health and a trip to the hospital.
Even healthy adults can get hypothermia when they are exposed to freezing cold temperatures. While it may seem that a furnace is just a modern convenience, more families have began to rely on them. A few homes might not have other methods to keep them warm in the winter. So if the heater has broken down, it needs to be quickly repaired by an expert.
A practical way to keep your unit running during the cold season is to give it annual tune-ups. A professional technician can make sure that the level of comfort is maintained for a family. They have the skills and knowledge to render any heating service that a family may need to help them remain warm during winter.
Homeowners typically get about 20 years of use out of a new furnace and 15 years from a heat pump. A car needs to be serviced on a regular basis and these units are similar. They need to be serviced on a regular basis in order to remain in the best condition possible. Below you will find more useful information about ways to heat your home and the maintenance required.
What do heating services professionals examine during an inspection?
The type of heating service that is needed depends on the unit that is involved. Forced air heating using a furnace is common in many newer homes. In older homes, electric fireplaces, heat pumps, and pellet stoves are more common. Whatever your heat source is, an experienced professional will be able to maintain it so that it keeps your home comfortable all winter.
Furnace
In order to ensure your furnace remains working properly, you should always have a skilled professional inspect it yearly, whether it’s electric, oil-, or gas-powered. They can spot potential issues and fix them before they change into winter-time emergencies. A furnace service expert will search for rust on specific parts from dampness and replace those to counteract abrupt breakdowns. Running a compromised furnace is dangerous and a certified professional can help you avoid this by checking for carbon monoxide leaks and electrical risks.
If your unit is near its end life then an expert can give you a discussion on your options for an upgrade. When you choose an efficient system for your home, you will be able to save money from it in the long-run.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are used in moderate climates since their temperature conversion is limited. Geothermal variations make some of these models popular in colder climates as well. Heat pumps trap outdoor air or heat from the ground, and use electricity and a blower to heat it and distribute it throughout the house. When an inspection is performed, a professional will clean the ducts, coils and fan blades, replace the filters, check the air flow output, lubricate the mechanical parts, and verify that the thermostat is functioning accurately.
Fireplaces
Standard fireplaces aren’t as effective at warming homes as the above heating ways. A cost-efficient way to heat a home, depending on its size, the location of the fireplace, and local prices of gas and electric are electric or gas fireplace inserts that come with blowers. Such inserts typically come with temperature control and are fairly simple to install in an existing fireplace for a professional. When conducting an annual inspection, an expert will make sure that the fan, vents, pilot light, and pilot safety system are all in proper working order.
Stoves
Pellet or wood stoves also need annual maintenance to keep them running efficiently. Maintaining it would include cleaning its ash before winter starts and having an expert on it do a service on it. Regular maintenance on stoves not only improves the unit’s efficiency, but can help prevent accidental fires.
A professional can service your furnace by lubricating the motor, inspecting the wires and switches, cleaning ash from exhaust from pipes and other parts of the fire chamber, among other things. Pellets have a cleaner burn than wood, thus are a more environment-friendly choice over wood stoves. But, yearly maintenance on either is necessary for keeping a home safe all winter. If there is built up ash anywhere in the system, this can spell disaster.