In Calgary reliable heating is critical during the winter months. Rather than waiting for something to happen before giving your furnace a second thought, you should ensure your furnace is ready for cold weather before it arrives.
Maintaining your furnace will reduce costly repairs, lower your heating bill and keep the heat running in your home when it’s cold outside. Taking care of your furnace in early autumn will allow you to make any needed repairs while it’s still warm.
Visually inspect the furnace, pipes, vents and electrical to confirm nothing is out of place or out of the ordinary. Also check around the gas line connecting to the furnace to verify there isn’t a gas leak which you would detect if you smell a rotten egg odour or smell.
Furnaces have an obvious drainage pipe or tube which allows condensation to drain from the unit. Look to make sure there isn’t any sign of blockage and that the water can drain freely. This is especially important if you have an air conditioner which shares the condensate drain.
Shut the power off for the furnace and check the wiring to make sure nothing looks frayed or discoloured. You can gently pull the wires to confirm they are properly attached and securely in place.
Most furnaces should have the filter changed regularly. Although there isn’t one answer of how often to change the filter for all furnaces, the rule of thumb is: very four months to a year for MERV filters and every one to two months for older fibreglass filters.
Your furnace filter helps improve your home’s indoor air quality, and minimizes dust and dirt buildup on the fan motor as well as the heating and cooling coil.
A dirty filter will reduce the energy efficiency of the furnace, increase furnace breakdowns and failure as well as reduce the lifespan of the unit.
The best solution to ensure your furnace operates efficiently is to schedule annual furnace maintenance with HVAC professionals in late summer or early fall. A comprehensive inspection and service will provide all the diagnostic checks needed giving you peace of mind your furnace is operating safely, efficiently and provide your home the heat needed during the coldest days.
Scheduling annual furnace maintenance will greatly increase the lifespan of your furnace and will reduce the number of times you may need to call for repairs. In fact if you neglect furnace maintenance and your furnace breaks down your warranty may become null and void.
Heating
Air Conditioning
Maintenance / Service Agreements
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