Okay, so you can’t completely avoid furnace repairs. That’d be nice, but every heating system has its limits. Natural wear and tear will impact the newest and best furnaces eventually. What you can do, however, is mitigate repair needs—make sure that the repairs you’re paying for are minimal at best and you’re never caught by surprise with furnace emergencies you weren’t expecting.
First, Did You Schedule Maintenance Last Fall?
We are now in the middle of winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for maintenance if you didn’t have it done this past fall. The thing is, yes, we recommend maintenance be done in the fall for good reason. It’s before you need your heating system the most, so you don’t have to worry about an interruption in service if repairs are suddenly needed.
What’s more important than when you have maintenance scheduled, however, is how often you have it scheduled. We recommend your furnace maintenance be done once a year—no matter the time of year. You can do what’s most convenient for you, but remember that HVAC techs are typically more readily available in the fall.
If you haven’t scheduled maintenance yet, give us a call today! And regardless of whether you have or not, read these tips on how you can prevent furnace problems.
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Even the basic digital thermostats are becoming outdated. Over years of use, they may get miscalibrated, and inaccurately read temperatures. Thermostat problems are very easy to resolve, but allowing them to carry on with issues can send the wrong signals to your furnace, causing your furnace to run longer or short-cycle as a result. This wears down on the heating system itself, leading to unnecessary repair needs or even premature equipment failure.
Change Your Air Filter
There’s a fairly common misconception among homeowners that the HVAC air filter is in place to protect their indoor air quality. This isn’t actually its intended purpose—the air filter is in place to protect the HVAC system itself from dirt and other debris that can infiltrate its internal components and cause problems.
Depending on the type of air filter you have and the level of contaminants in your home (things like cigarette smoke and pet dander will add to debris), this air filter should be changed every 1-3 months.
Check Your Pilot Light
If you ever notice that your furnace is blowing cold air, check your pilot light. If it’s not lit, then there is, of course, a problem. It’s recommended that you inspect your pilot light once each season to make sure it’s burning a crisp blue color, which is the most energy-efficient, as it uses only a small amount of gas to produce a lot of heat.
An orange or yellow flame means not only is your furnace not working as efficiently as it should be, but it also isn’t operating as safely as it should be. Please be sure to give us a call right away if you notice this problem. In the meantime, keep up on checking this each season when you turn your furnace on for the first time to potentially avoid furnace repairs and hazards.
When you’re in need of expert heating repair in Moore, OK, look no further than our team. At Comfort Incorporated, we keep your family safe, healthy and comfortable—call today, service today!
