Roger Morph 
Summer is upon us, and with the first cold days, you’re probably starting to think about heating. If you have an HVAC system, it’s simple and can be set up in just a few clicks, so you don’t have to worry if low temperatures surprise you. However, before turning on the heating, it is important to pay attention to the “brain” of this system, the furnace.
The HVAC system requires regular maintenance, which includes preparing it for winter. This task isn’t too demanding, and when done regularly and correctly, it can save you a lot of trouble and unpleasant situations, like when your furnace just shuts down during the winter. It’s best to do this in late summer or early fall to prepare it for upcoming chilly days.
Leaving this task to experts from Bosque Heating, Cooling & Plumbing will give you peace of mind. They have the knowledge, skills, and tools to perform system maintenance efficiently and quickly. If necessary, they troubleshoot possible issues and fix current faults before the start of the heating season. But before having them over, you too can take part in furnace annual maintenance this fall.
Clean the Furnace
You would be amazed how much just one annual cleaning can benefit your furnace. If you do this before the winter, you will enable it to work efficiently. Accumulated dirt and dust inside this unit can interfere with heat emissions, so your home might not be properly heated.
Before you start cleaning the heating element, you have to ensure safe and trouble-free work. Unplug it from the power supply and shut the gas valve if the unit uses gas. Clean all openings, the combustion chamber, and the entire outside of the furnace. Then, undusted all major inside components, like the blower motor, heat exchanger, and burner, to ensure their smooth operation.
For this task, you will need damp cloths to remove all dust particles from the furnace parts. Also, you could use a vacuum cleaner to pick up accumulated dust and debris. After you have finished cleaning, also clean the area around this unit. Remove all necessary items around it, as they can affect the functionality of this heating unit.
A more detailed explanation of cleaning furnace inside out is below:
https://www.ehow.com/how_5733348_clean-electric-furnace.html
Clean Vents
Before turning the furnace on, it is important to clean the vents. Dust, dirt, and grease can accumulate on these openings and their grills. All these can interfere with airflow and make it impossible to heat the rooms evenly. Eventually, that dirt can get inside the vents, where it can cause clogs and major system breakdowns.
Cleaning vent openings is an integral part of HVAC system maintenance, but it would be good if you could perform this task more often because dust accumulates quickly during the heating season. Pay special attention to the floor openings because crumbs, animal hair, and mud can get in there and clog the vents.
The cleaning procedure itself is simple. You have to remove the grills and allow access to the vent interior. The first step is vacuuming and removing larger debris with a brush. Ensure that the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner reaches as deep as possible into the interior.
After that, spray the cleaning solution inside the vents, on the frame, and grill, and wipe everything with a microfiber cloth. Finally, put all the covers and grills back.
Inspect the Heating Element
After cleaning the furnace, inspect it from all sides. Also, pay attention to the ductwork, as well as all connections. Everything must be correct and undamaged to provide good heating output during cold days. There are differences between inspecting electric and gas-burned units, which you can find out about at this link.
Gas furnaces require special attention because problems with leaky gas can be hazardous. They can happen if there are cracks or holes in your unit, which arise as a result of high pressure and heat. So take a detailed look at a combustion chamber, joints, and all rusty spots where there is a chance of cracks forming through which gas can leak. In case you spot any, call HVAC technicians to fix that.
If you use a gas furnace, checking a pilot light is a must. This indicator shows whether the gas supply is good and whether the furnace works efficiently. It should be blue with yellow tips. In case it’s flickering or changes its color to orange or yellow entirely, try to reset it. If nothing changes, you must check the gas regulator or simply call professionals to troubleshoot and fix this problem.
Prepare for Filter Replacement
The furnace filter is a handy part of this device because it not only cleans the air and protects your health but also protects your furnace. It stands over the blower fan and shields it from all the dirt, debris, and hair that can reach it through the return duct. All this remains on the filter every day, meaning its regular replacement or cleaning is necessary to ensure proper airflow.
In the fall, during regular furnace maintenance, you must replace the filter. During the winter, this should be done every month or two. Frequent replacement is necessary if you live in a polluted area or have smokers in your house. In case you buy more advanced filters with better purifying performance, you can change them every three to six months.
Call Pros
After doing your part of the furnace maintenance in the fall, it’s time to call HVAC technicians for a final tuning-up before turning the heating on. If you skip some of the previous steps, these experts will do them.
They’ll inspect the furnace thoroughly, calibrate the thermostat, check wiring and gas connection, and test safety switches. After this in-depth maintenance, your furnace is ready for the winter.
Check the following source for a guide on hiring the best HVAC contractors:
https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/hvac/hire-hvac-contractor/
Regular furnace maintenance is crucial to ensure proper and efficient heating during winter. By doing it in the fall, you can prevent breakdowns at inconvenient moments and prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system. By cleaning the furnace and vents and replacing filters or letting pros do that, you’ll have peace of mind during colder months.
