With fall and cooler weather coming to Southwest Arizona, the reliability of your home’s heating system is critical to the comfort of your family. A furnace is a large investment, and as a homeowner you certainly don’t want to replace it when it’s most needed.
An annual furnace inspection by your local HVAC professional will keep your system running at maximum efficiency, saving energy and money on ever-increasing utility bills. During the inspection, your HVAC contractor will go through a serie
s of procedures to catch small problems before they develop into large, costly ones. Here are some steps in the inspection::
All Systems
- Testing the heat exchanger for leaks or cracks that may leak carbon monoxide into your home.
- Testing and calibrating the thermostat for response and operation.
- Running the system through the start-up, operating and shut-off cycles to check all operations for efficiency.
- Inspecting and adjusting all the electrical connections, voltage and current to the motor to avoid possible overheating and/or electrical fires.
- Cleaning and possibly adjusting the fan to insure that it cycles on and off according to the thermostat setting.
- Checking and lubricating all moving parts to reduce friction. This includes checking any belts for wear or damage.
- Inspecting and cleaning the blower components to enhance air flow.
- Inspecting the flue and ductwork for leaks or obstructions, which impact indoor air quality.
Gas-Fired Systems
- Cleaning/adjusting the pilot light in older furnaces and the burners in all furnaces.
- Testing the gas pressure to ensure the correct amount of fuel is reaching the burners.
- Checking all fuel lines and connections for leaks or faults.
- Checking vents to make sure they’re safely removing combustion gases from your home.
What You Can Do
- Clean or replace filters on a regular basis.
- Turn off the system’s power supply at the breaker, then vacuum dirt and dust buildup from the unit’s blower.
- Check easily accessible ductwork and joints for leaks and seal them using mastic sealant or metal tape (not duct tape).
For more information on maintaining your furnace or to schedule a furnace inspection with one of our qualified technicians, please contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We have expertly served the Yuma area since 1952.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace inspections and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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