Since those winter nights in Jacksonville can get a bit chilly, you want to make sure your furnace is ready to work. Your furnace is an investment, and you want to keep it in good condition. Regular servicing ensures that a professional can quickly identify any issues and fix them before they become bigger problems or leave you cold in the middle of the night. Learning more about this service, when to get it and what it entails will help you to better understand why it is so important.
Why You Should Service Your Furnace
You know that regular furnace maintenance will extend its lifespan, but there are other reasons to make sure you service your furnace regularly. When your furnace is working properly, you can ensure that your home is comfortable throughout the colder months. You can trust the temperature that you set is the one your home will reach.
A maintained furnace can help with your home’s air quality. When you keep your furnace clean and change your filters according to an expert’s recommendations, there are fewer air impurities in your home. This is beneficial for everyone in your home but especially those with respiratory illnesses and allergies.
You will also get some peace of mind when you service your furnace. This is because you can be confident that the technician will catch any issues and repair or replace the parts before your furnace can break down and leave your family in the cold.
What Are Common Furnace Problems?
Knowing the common furnace issues makes it easier to identify a problem as soon as it starts. Some common problems can affect all homeowners, reducing their furnace efficiency or compromising its function.
For example, your furnace might not kick on as it should. This might be due to something simple, like a switch in the “off” position or a tripped breaker. Dirty filters can also prevent your furnace from starting as usual. If you address these issues and your furnace still doesn’t start, it’s time to call a professional. You may have a more serious issue with the motor, thermostat, or another critical part of your furnace.
You may notice that your furnace is blowing cold air instead of hot air. The first thing to check is if the furnace has power and if the fan is working. Issues, such as a blockage affecting the fresh-air intake or a failing ignitor can also cause this problem. All of these issues are something that a professional should tackle.
If the blower is running constantly, this could mean that the thermostat is in the on position instead of the auto position. If this is not the case, you should have a professional look for a broken thermostat or a problem with the system’s control board.
Weird smells and noises can also indicate a problem with your furnace. If you notice an abnormal odor, you might need to change the filter. Other issues that can cause this include mold on the drip pan or a problem with your ductwork. Strange noises could occur as a result of furnace cabinet leaks, worn motor bearings, or a dirty filter.
Is your furnace cycling frequently or short-cycling? This is a common problem that could be linked to the filter or thermostat. Other more serious problems, like the flame sensor, can also cause this, which is why talking to a professional is so vital.
How Often You Should Service Your Furnace
The general recommendation is that you should have a professional furnace servicing during the fall season. You want to ensure that your system is ready for the cold temperatures before they become the norm for the next several months. Ideally, you will do this every year so that should a component start to wear or break, an experienced technician will see it and can tackle the repair or replacement.
Not only will this help to prolong the life of your system, but it will also help you to save energy since your furnace will be running efficiently. On average, about 75% of calls to HVAC professionals during the winter for no heat are due to the furnace not having regular maintenance.
The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is also lower in homes that have regular furnace servicing. Keeping your furnace maintenance appointments every year helps to ensure that the parts that can emit this gas when they are bad are caught before something bad happens. If an experienced technician tells you that there is a carbon monoxide danger, make sure that you do not use your furnace until a professional can complete the repair.
Signs You Should Service Your Furnace
Your furnace will usually tell you when there is a problem. The key is to know what to be aware of so that you know when it is time to call in a professional.
Several signs that indicate your furnace needs some attention include:
- Low airflow
- Uneven heating
- Airflow changes
- Unusual noises
- Abnormal smells
- Increased energy bills
- Unusually long runtime
- Short cycling
Important Furnace Maintenance Tasks
Having a professional come in for annual furnace service is critical to keep your furnace operating properly. The professional will perform several tasks after inspecting to make sure that your furnace is ready for winter.
They will replace your filter and let you know how often you should complete this task. The environment in your home and the manufacturer recommendations associated with your furnace will determine how often this task is necessary.
A professional will take a look at your thermostat and make sure that it is operating properly They will also turn heating mode on to ensure that your furnace is putting out the right temperature.
Technicians will look at the different parts, such as the combustion chamber, pilot light, and heat exchanger. They will make sure that these are clean and that there are no structural issues that could cause them to fail.
The next step is cleaning the blower motor and the gas valve. They will adjust this valve if it is necessary. Looking at the wires is another important step because they can see if there are burns on them.
One of the final steps is looking at the ductwork and flue. They will let you know if these require cleaning before you start to use your furnace for the winter.
Lastly, a professional will make sure that there are no gas leaks in your system. This is critical because leaks could cause carbon monoxide poisoning or even an explosion.
Professional Furnace Servicing in Jacksonville
Make sure to get furnace servicing completed on a regular schedule to keep everything functioning safely and efficiently. Our team in Jacksonville has experience that allows us to handle a wide variety of your heating needs. Whether you just need some routine maintenance or a major repair, we are here to help you. As the weather gets warmer, we can also help to ensure that your cooling system is ready for those hot Jacksonville days.
Contact Reliable Ducts Heating & Cooling today for your next furnace servicing appointment.