Furnace Tune Up Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Regular tuning of a furnace is just as critical as oil changes of a vehicle. Without regular maintenance, your furnace will lose efficiency and could break down unexpectedly. If your furnace is producing strange noises or even if it’s working okay, a tune-up can keep your family safe and warm during the entire winter.
What does a furnace tune up cover?
Sudden breakdowns in the system are a major pain, whether you are using the furnace for convenience or relying on the heat during cold temperatures. During a furnace tune up, an expert professional will check the different pieces of the furnace and fix any damages to enable the furnace to keep going as far as might be feasible. With regular maintenance, unexpected breakdowns, recurring problems, or frequent replacements can be prevented. In addition, they can ensure that your furnace runs more efficiently and save you money all winter long.
During a tune-up, a professional will:
- check for system leaks and tears or gaps in the ductwork
- lubricate the mechanical parts
- clean the major components of the furnace
- recalibrate the thermostat
- test the heating elements
- pilot system and/or electrical components
- test the safety and limit switches
Why is a tune-up necessary?
There are far more compelling reasons to have your furnace cleaned regularly than simply keeping it looking nice. Clean furnaces simply run more efficiently that dirty furnaces. You may notice that your energy bill is lower after the air flow filters have been replaced and the coils have been cleaned.
One important step in the tune-up process of your furnace is testing of the pilot system. A yellow flame instead of a blue one indicates that the fuel is not burning off completely, and that may lead to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide building up in your home — a serious threat to the health and welfare of your family. A certified technician can help in determining the risk of your furnace for leaking this gas.
Tune-ups don’t only save you money on energy bills but also in costly repairs that they may prevent from occurring. After all, if you don’t take care of it, you’ll have to have it repaired more. Dirty or worn out parts impair the efficiency of a furnace, making it work harder and wear out sooner. In the long run, a few sections might be too costly to even think about repairing and the entire unit may need to be replaced.
Even though the heating system tends to be out of mind, it is impossible to deny the absence of warm air in winter for a long time and it is inconvenient enough to warrant early prevention steps to be taken before the start of winter. A properly maintained furnace has an average life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. A furnace may even last up to 40 years, depending on how heavily it’s used.
If you have a newer furnace, be aware that regular maintenance by a certified technician, may be required to keep the warranty valid. After all, when you take care of something, it lasts much longer. While your furnace may be running smoothly now, having it tuned-up can save you money on costly repairs.
How should homeowners maintain their furnaces between tune-ups?
Furnaces usually require very little maintenance by homeowners between tune-ups unless something breaks down and needs to get fixed. However, there are some things you can do to help your furnace last as long as it possibly can and work efficiently until the time for your next tune up.
One of the ways you can maintain an efficient furnace is to change the air filter on a regular basis. A dirty filter will decrease the flow of air, which causes strain on the system and forces your furnace to work harder to keep the temperature in your home comfortable. You should be changing your air filter regularly. Experts say it should be at least every three months especially if you have pets. A filter will improve the functioning of your furnace and will also filter out toxins, particles, and allergens, allowing your family to breathe clean air through the year.
Though you might be tempted to close off air vents to control temperatures and air flow through your home, it can actually be detrimental to your system. Closed vents also provide an atmosphere that can promote the growth of mold in a home’s ductwork. You’re not going to save money by closing vents if you end up having to replace your furnace sooner.
Finally, if your furnace vents are on the outside of your home, you’ll want to make sure that nothing is blocking or restricting air flow such as critters or other debris. Don’t wait until the heating season is underway to check your furnace vent for blockages. In case your furnace is apparently having issues when running, you can in like manner check for this before calling the experts for a fix.