Your heating system should have a maintenance check performed on it once a year. This should be done in the fall to ensure that your heating system can keep your home or business warm during the cold parts of the winter.

Each maintenance service for your heating system should include the following services:

• Check the vent system and air ducts for leaks or blockages.
• Examine the heat exchanger for signs of corrosion, cracks, or damage.
• Inspect the blower and clean its components if needed.
• Check the air intake grills for blockages.
• Perform an amp-draw test on the blower motor. This is done to check the health of the blower components and ensure that it is performing to the unit’s specifications.
• Check the burner and test the flame sensor to ensure they are operating properly.
• Check the electrical connections to ensure that they are tight and the wires are free of rust or corrosion.
• Lubricate the motor’s moving parts to reduce friction and prevent premature failure.
• Test the thermostat calibration to ensure that it and your heater are communicating properly.
• Test the unit’s safety controls to ensure your unit doesn’t overheat.
• Check the belts for signs of wear, replace them if necessary.
• Test the system’s start-up cycle to make sure it is functioning properly.
• Check the air filter and replace it if necessary to ensure that there is no restriction of airflow which could damage the system and components over time.

Air filters should be replaced every three months to protect the health of your system and your indoor air quality. The air filter may need to be changed more often depending on a wide variety of different factors, such as whether or not you have pets, if you live in an area with high outdoor air pollution, or if you have family members who suffer from respiratory conditions or allergies. 

Typically, a furnace has a lifespan of about 10-15 years depending on its upkeep. There are some signs that can also indicate that your furnace may need to be replaced; these include but are not limited to the following:

1. Loud Operation: It is normal for your furnace to make some noise when it first turns on but the sound shouldn’t be overly distracting. If your furnace begins to make rattling, clicking, booming, or grinding noises then something is wrong and needs to be checked out immediately.
2. Uneven Heating: If your home has areas of cold pockets and hot pockets, this means that your furnace is not heating your home evenly. If you can rule out other possible causes such as a cracked window then it could indicate that your furnace’s ability to properly heat your home is weakening. You will want to call an HVAC technician to come check out your furnace.
3. Your Furnace is Short Cycling: Short cycling describes the continuous starting up and shutting down of your furnace. A typical and healthy run cycle of your furnace is about 15 minutes before it starts to shut down. If your furnace is cutting off sooner and starting up again right after, this could mean that your furnace is having some major problems. It is best to get this checked out by a trusted HVAC professional.
4. Your Heating Bills Seem to Keep Rising: If you are noticing your energy bills keep rising it could be because of a failing furnace. Contact your trusted HVAC technicians to help ensure that your furnace isn’t part of the problem. 

Ensuring that your furnace is inspected and cleaned yearly can help improve your furnace’s overall health and performance. It is important to note that most manufacturer warranties on furnaces require annual service to maintain the warranty. 

Generally, gas boilers are more economically efficient than an oil boiler. Gas boilers can be broken up into different categories, such as propane or natural gas. Natural gas boilers do not require onsite storage as does an oil or propane boiler.

Emergency Heat is a setting that controls your home’s backup heating system. Emergency Heat is a term that is usually associated with a heat pump as it needs a secondary heating option when more heating is required than normal. Heat pumps generally tap into the secondary heating source when temperatures reach below 35° Fahrenheit

Select AC & Heating is dedicated to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our community. This is why we take great lengths to educate our clients on their heating and cooling systems so that they can know what signs to look out for. If your home or business in the Lewisville, Dallas, and Fort Worth areas is in need of heating services, you can rely on the team at Select AC and Heating to be there for you. Contact our team for more information or to schedule an appointment.