Your furnace is one of the most essential appliances in your house during winter. Therefore, you should ensure that it operates well and can maintain its function throughout the cold season. This necessity calls for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioner (HVAC) expert to examine, repair, and maintain your system. Here is a checklist of components that the HVAC expert should go through.
Filters and Vents
The filters keep the air that flows through the furnace clean and free of debris. At the same time, the vents help to circulate the air and maintain the furnace’s correct temperature.
Since winter increases your use of the gas furnace, it will circulate more air during this time. Therefore, you should replace the filters with clean ones and clean the vents. This process will ensure that your furnace circulates clean air throughout the season.
Thermostat
The thermostat regulates the temperature of the furnace. You should keep the thermostat in good working order to prevent the furnace from overheating or becoming too cold.
Your HVAC technician should clean the thermostat and check the wires to ensure everything works properly. Also, they should calibrate the thermostat to ensure its accuracy. Finally, they should test the thermostat based on its calibrated settings to ensure it runs within the configured parameters.
Ducts
The ducts create a pathway for the hot air the furnace generates to reach the different rooms in the house. You should have your ducts cleaned regularly to remove contaminants like mold that might affect your house’s air quality. Additionally, have your ducts checked for any signs of damage or wear. Spots with damage or wear can leak air and create strain your furnace system.
Blowers
The blowers generate airflow that ensures hot air circulates throughout your house. Your HVAC technician should disassemble the blower and check the individual components. They can remove any dust and debris that might affect performance.
Also, they should lubricate the bearings and fans in the blower system to minimize friction that might inhibit the fans’ speed. Finally, they should ensure the blowers are properly aligned when they reassemble them into the furnace.
Burner
The burners provide the heat necessary to warm the air in your house. Without proper maintenance, the burners can become clogged or damaged, which can cause the furnace to malfunction.
Your specialist should clean the flame sensor and burner manifold. The flame sensor communicates with the ignitor to determine if the furnace is activated. At the same time, the burner manifold delivers gas directly to the ignitor. Carbon and dirt build-up can limit the sensor’s ability to sense the flame, which can shut off the furnace. Luckily, a clean manifold ensures a clean gas supply, which protects your system from gas contaminants.
Finally, your technician should check the integrity of the ignitor. Since this component is very delicate, you may need to replace it rather than risk damage that might compromise its functionality.
Gas Line
The gas line delivers gas from the supply to the furnace, regulates gas flow to the furnace, and controls the gas pressure to the furnace. Your HVAC specialist should check the gas line for leaks and repair it if necessary.
Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Detectors
Even though both of these components exist outside the furnace, they complement its operation since they provide safety mechanisms to detect carbon monoxide and smoke. You should test your CO and smoke detectors monthly to ensure they can detect and warn you about high levels of CO and smoke in your house.
Also, change the batteries in these detectors if you haven’t for over six months. If your CO detector is over seven years, you should replace it with a newer model.
Contact us at CABS Heating & Air Conditioning for maintenance services on your gas furnace.
