Revised:
December 21st, 2021
Has your furnace been serviced this year? If not, it’s not too late. One of the easiest ways to make sure to remember is to sign up with a maintenance plan. In this video we’ll talk about what is done during a Better Maintenance Plan tune-up.
Hi, I’m Jerad with Fire & Ice. We recommend everyone have their furnace tuned-up every year to make sure it’s working as it should. Most people have their furnace serviced before winter arrives but it can be done any time of the year. Many of our customers enjoy the convenience that comes with one of our maintenance agreement plans. We have three plans available: Better, best, and Fantastic. In this video we’ll go over everything that’s done during our Better Maintenance tune-up.
Why does my furnace need maintenance?
But before we dive in, let’s take a moment and discuss why your furnace needs maintenance. Your furnace is a lot like your car. Changing the oil in your car and rotating the tires are important to maintain the car’s performance. If it's not maintained on a regular basis it will begin to lose performance, waste energy, and potentially fail sooner than it should.
According to Energy Star, nearly 42% of your utility bill goes towards heating your home. Having regular maintenance done to your furnace will detect problems before they become larger ones. It can also help your furnace last longer, operate more efficiently, saving you money.
What’s included in a fantastic furnace tune-up?
Now that we know why maintenance is so important let’s walk through everything that’s done during a fantastic tune up.
On the day of your service, you'll receive a text message letting you know your service tech is on the way. Once they arrive, they will park their company vehicle where you can see them. Each tech will wear a company uniform, name badge, shoe covers, and personal protective equipment. Our techs do this because we respect your safety.
The tune-up for your furnace starts at the thermostat. The tech will raise the temperature by about 4 degrees. We like the furnace to run for a couple minutes for the first set of tests we run. During this time, we’ll go over any questions you may have and discuss how your system has been performing.
Next, we'll do an assessment of the furnace and surrounding area. We’ll make note of anything that may be affecting your furnace or home. Some of the things we look for include: the water heater location, the condition of the gas and drain lines, presence of mold, asbestos on the ductwork, any unusual smells or sounds, and others.
Next, we check the filter to make sure its clean and installed properly. We also check for any air leaks or catches around the filter rack. If a new filter is available we'll take the time to replace it.
Next, we take a series of temperature readings from both the supply and return air ducts to see if they are within normal ranges for your furnace. If your home has a whole-house humidifier, we will check that too. We'll make sure both the humidistat and humidifier are working and draining properly. We also assess the humidifier's pad’s condition. Generally, we recommend replacing the pad once per heating season.
Next, we move onto electrical components. We’ll take note of the amps the blower motor and inducer motor in high-efficiency models draw. These readings help us determine if the motors are operating normally or are in need of repair.
Next, we’ll turn off the furnace and begin cleaning the flame sensor and burners. Cleaning them is one of the best ways to ensure the furnace will continue to heat throughout the winter. We also check the condition and performance of the igniter. If an igniter has deteriorated too far the furnace won't start and will need to be replaced. With the combustion components reassembled and wiring reattached we turn our focus to the blower motor. On a better maintenance plan we will assess the condition of the blower in place for any signs of oil.
Next up, is the furnace's circuit board. We make sure all wiring connections inside and out of the furnace are secure and free of any corrosion and burns. We also will inspect cthe breaker to make sure the toggles are functional. We then inspect the exhaust flues from the furnace to the outside. We make sure they have the proper slope and are in good working order. For high-efficiency furnaces we inspect the outside termination to make sure its free of obstruction and installed correctly.
Next, we’ll turn the furnace back on and check the exhaust draft and pressure switch. If the draft is weak we check for any obstructions and cracks in the tubing. If draft is still weak a recommendation for repair is likely.
Next, we check the gas pressures with a manometer to ensure gas pressures are to the furnace’s specifications. We will make the proper adjustments if any are needed. One of the last but most important steps we do is check carbon monoxide levels to make sure they are within normal levels. We check by inserting a combustion analyzer in both the supply air duct and exhaust pipe through a quarter inch hole. If a hole isn’t present, one will be drilled and later sealed with a piece of tape.
The last step is to put the cover back on and pack up all the tools and clean the area we were working. A report will then be written of our findings with any recommendations for repairs. We conclude with a review of everything that was done and any questions you may have. The better maintenance tune up usually takes around an hour to complete.
What are the next steps?
I hope by now you see the value provided by our best maintenance plan. If you haven’t already signed up with one of our maintenance agreements visit our website and click the schedule service button. We’d love to set you up on one of our maintenance plans and get your next furnace tune-up on the calendar. Thank you for watching and we look forward to making your day better.
