A well-maintained furnace can last for many years, particularly in a climate like Corpus Christi’s, where the heating season is relatively short. Unfortunately, the fact that our furnaces don’t get used as much as they do further north may lead some homeowners to skimp on furnace and other HVAC system maintenance, particularly if the equipment seems to be running fine.
Today’s furnaces are more complex than they were in the past, and require professional attention to ensure they keep running right. Regular maintenance can spare you discomfort during one of our cold spells, as well as expensive repairs when parts fail and have to be replaced.
What is Good Furnace Maintenance?
Furnace maintenance starts with regularly changing the filter, a job you can do on your own. The filter should always be the right size, and it should be changed regularly, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Change it more often if conditions in your home generate a lot of dust.
Otherwise, your HVAC technician should look at several points on your furnace and within the HVAC system to ensure correct performance. Most critical is the heat exchanger, the chamber where combustion takes place. The technician should examine the heat exchanger for cracks, a condition that can occur as the metal continuously heats up and cools down over the years, to ensure that carbon monoxide is not leaking out. The burners should also be checked to ensure they are free of corrosion and burning with a blue flame.
Other inspection points include:
- Gas or oil connections and gas pressure.
- Thermostat settings, to ensure the furnace is reaching set points.
- Controls, to ensure proper cycling.
- Moving parts, lubricating if necessary to prevent friction and wear.
- Electrical connections, tightening or replacing if worn; also voltage and current on motors.
- Condensate drain, checking for plugs or holes that might lead to water damage or high humidity.
For more on furnace maintenance, contact Mathews CCAC Inc. of Corpus Christi. We are “Constantly Concerned About Customers” in the Coastal Bend area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Sergey Peterman/Shutterstock”
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