Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield are wonderful places in which to own a home. Each has its own distinctive people, spirit and charm, and living down the road from Chicago can have its advantages too.
We also get to experience the four seasons, so it’s important to have HVAC that serves us with each change in weather. The temps are getting cooler here and, as you know, will continue to drop. Now is the time to make sure our heating system is ready to go with mindful maintenance.
A malfunctioning heating system can do more than cause discomfort when it’s cold – it could also create safety risks. Beyond helping to keep you safe and warm, regular heating maintenance can contribute to greater air quality and energy efficiency too.
Committing to regular heating maintenance is both preventive and proactive. By doing a little work in the present, you can avoid a lot of problems in the future.
Today we’ll talk about some things you should know about your heating maintenance in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora or Plainfield. We want to help you be an informed HVAC consumer as well, so we’ll also share some things you may not have been aware of about your heating system.
Heating Maintenance: What You Should Know
Some furnace problems can be complex and require professional attention. Many others are simple and common ones that can be avoided with proper heating maintenance.
A few of those basic issues might include:
Dirty filter. We will always bring this to light because it remains the source of so many system ailments. Being well outside of our immediate sight, the filter is easy to forget about. Months can pass as it constantly gathers particles while performing its function. If it is not changed regularly, it will clog and start to work against your heating system.
Lack of cleaning and clear space. Dirt, dust and other debris will collect on and around a furnace over time. To help it perform at high levels, the furnace should be thoroughly inspected and cleaned at least once each year.
Corrosion. Moisture is part of an HVAC system. Where there is water, particularly when it is near wiring, terminals and metal parts, there exists the chance of rust and wear. Proper heating maintenance includes removing excess moisture where it can interfere with system performance and longevity.
Thermostat. This factor may seem obvious, but it’s also one of the most overlooked. If something is wrong with the thermostat, including a weak or dead battery, it will not communicate with the heating system. If something isn’t working, you can try returning the unit to the manufacturer’s settings. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, contact your heating professional.
Because a heating system is mechanical, it is inevitable that it will eventually slow down from old age and require replacement – often after between 10 and 20 years, depending on the furnace model and type and consistency of regular heating maintenance. However, by keeping to a set maintenance plan and schedule, you can ward off many of the signs that indicate the furnace isn’t working:
- cool or lukewarm air from the vents
- poor airflow
- frequent on-off cycling
- rising energy bills
- imbalanced heat distribution (cold spots)
- unusual sounds from the system
Heating Maintenance: What You Maybe Didn’t Know
The smarter you are about HVAC, the better prepared you will be to both troubleshoot problems on your own and have the intuition to suspect an issue before it gets bigger.
Here are some things you might not have already known about your furnace:
1) Your forced-air furnace has two air streams that are separated by the heat exchanger, which is a series of tubes or coils that are contained in a sealed chamber of the furnace. The tubes heat up and transfer the heat to the air that will be pushed into the home.
If the heat exchanger isn’t working correctly, it may allow combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide to enter the air you breathe. The heat exchanger can be impaired by factors such as a clogged or dirty filter; moisture from basements, crawlspaces and garages; and blocked air vents.
2) Speaking of air vents, closing them may seem like a good idea to reduce airflow or even to save on utility costs, but doing so can actually create a problem. This is because closing off the air to a particular room does not re-direct it; rather, the air backs up and stresses the system. If you want to adjust a vent, consider closing it partially.
3) In some cases, everything about the furnace might appear to be fine but a problem still exists. The issue might be within the ducts, which can be even easier to forget about than the furnace itself. Proper ductwork is vital to the heating system. If the ducts were installed incorrectly or are not the right size, heated air will not travel as it should.
Scheduling heating maintenance – ideally in late summer or early fall – can help detect and prevent problems such as these. The result for you is a heating system that works better and longer for you – as well as one that keeps you warm, safe and comfortable when it gets cold in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield.
Heating Maintenance: Contact Us Today
Here at Air Dynamics, we devote the best of our knowledge and resources to ensuring optimal heating at home for our customers in Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville, Aurora and Plainfield. We are always interested in your questions about heating maintenance and will be glad to answer them. Simply give us a call at (630) 731-1550. Ask us about our All-Inclusive Maintenance Plan with exclusive benefits too!
