Heater Maintenance for Winter

As Fall comes, cooler temperatures will follow. Mornings have a nice crisp feel as you step outside for breakfast. Soon enough you will slide the thermostat setting over from Cool to Heat. You will expect your HVAC system to deliver warm air to the comfort setting you are accustomed to; it can be distressing when it does not live up to your expectations.

If your central heating system worked fine last season, you might wonder, why “fix it if it’s not broken?” But then commonsense takes over and you realize nothing good comes from waiting until your HVAC system fails during the heating season. Actually, the beginning of the heating season is an excellent time to call your HVAC system professional and schedule a preventative maintenance visit. Here are some good reasons for a maintenance visit now:

• Safety. If your forced-air furnace uses propane, butane, or natural gas, it needs regular inspection to check for a gas leak, faulty burners, or cracks in the exhaust flue. Gases from these sources can enter your home with deadly results.
• Potential Problems. Your heating and air conditioning professional can inspect electrical and mechanical components for reduced performance, which indicates imminent failure. Consider these small problems that are caught before they become big problems. If the problem is big and replacement is necessary, it is better to find it early, compared to a failure causing an emergency replacement during a stationary cold front that moves in all week long.
• Clean air. Part of the maintenance service is a thorough cleaning of surfaces inside the system and installation of a new filter. All of the dust, pollen, and dander removed will no longer circulate throughout your home.
• Efficiency. After checking for safety issues, inspecting for failing components, and giving it a thorough cleaning, your heater will run more efficiently and reduce your energy bills.

Why now?

HVAC professionals are under stress when systems are under stress—at the peak of both cooling and heating seasons. Extreme temperatures put increased load on units; you will know if your refrigerant has been leaking or a capacitor has failed when the temp has peaked or bottomed out.

Getting a routine visit during a slower season allows technicians to respond quickly. Once the cold weather arrives, repairs and replacements become more frequent and response time may be longer. Check for a seasonal special rate as an appreciation for calling during the seasonal lull.

Last season was hard on furnaces and heat pumps. Even if yours ran well all winter long, schedule your annual Heater Maintenance service now to keep it in good order this Fall and Winter.

Have questions about Heater Maintenance?

For more information about R.M. Mullinix and Heater Maintenance, schedule an appointment, or visit our New AC Installation information page.