At-Home Furnace Service in Bay Head, NJ
Your air conditioner has been running continuously for months, but now summer is over. You have been enjoying having your windows open, but the nights are starting to get cool. At some point in the very near future, it will be the dreaded time of year to turn on the heat. If you are like most home owners, you turned off the heat months ago and haven’t thought about your furnace since. What can you do to help avoid the need for emergency Bay Head furnace service this winter?
There are many things you can do to try to avoid emergency furnace service call in Bay Head, NJ.
- The first and, by far, the easiest thing you can do to avoid sudden furnace failure is to turn it on. In the weeks or even months leading up to frigid temperatures, turn your furnace on to make sure it is in working order. Make sure it fires up, that it’s actually heating your home, and that it seems to be functioning properly. None of this requires a service call, but not doing it may.
- Secondly, take a good look at your furnace. Are the ducts and pipework that you can see easily still attached and free of damage? If you find any pipes that are no longer attached properly or look to have major damage, contact a Bay Head furnace service repairman.
- Next, while visually inspecting your furnace, make sure to lean in towards the gas line and ensure you do not smell anything unusual. If you detect the odor of rotten eggs, it is a good indicator of a gas leak. It is imperative that you make sure the furnace is off, evacuate the residence, and call the fire department and gas company. Once the house is ruled safe to reenter, your next phone call should be to your trusted HVAC company to provide the furnace service necessary.
- Another inspection and maintenance step you take on your own is to clear out the condensate pipe. There is a drain pipe that is attached to your furnace. This pipe should be cleared at least once to twice a year depending on your furnace and usage. If you neglect to clear the pipe yourself or if it’s not done during your maintenance call, you can have a major leak. This can cause water damage to the area surrounding your furnace. Additionally, it can potentially cause damage to the furnace itself. If you are uncomfortable doing this step yourself, contact your favorite furnace maintenance technician to help.
- Lastly, keep the area surrounding the furnace and the system itself clean. Vacuum well around the base of the furnace and dust all around it to remove extraneous dust and debris. Dirt around and in your furnace can do more than hinder its performance. Long term, debris can cause extra wear and tear which could lead to larger furnace repair bills.
As fall comes to a close and winter starts to show its true temperatures, you want to feel comfortable knowing your furnace is going to perform when necessary. There are certain things you can do on your own. However, nothing can replace an annual inspection by an HVAC expert in Bay Head, NJ. No matter how much preparation you do and how well you maintain your furnace, failures can still happen. If you are in Bay Head, NJ, make sure you have a trusted furnace service company that you can call in an emergency.
Check Your Thermostat Before You Call Bay Head Furnace Service Professional
Regularly checking the calibration and settings of your thermostat is crucial for the efficient operation of your home’s furnace. A properly calibrated thermostat ensures that the furnace operates at the right times and at the appropriate temperatures. This maximizes comfort and minimizes energy usage.
An accurately calibrated thermostat measures and controls the indoor temperature precisely. This allows it to turn on or off based on the actual ambient temperature. This is important because a thermostat that reads temperatures incorrectly can cause the furnace to run excessively or inadequately. For instance, an improperly calibrated thermostat reads the room temperature as cooler than it actually is. This leads to the furnace running longer than necessary. This leads to wasted energy. Furthermore, it can put undue stress on the furnace components, potentially shortening the lifespan of the system.
Furthermore, ensure that your thermostat settings are correct according to your daily schedule and seasonal needs. It can lead to significant energy savings. Many modern thermostats offer programmable settings that allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day. For example, setting a lower temperature during the night or when the house is unoccupied can reduce energy.
Lastly, a routine check to ensure that your thermostat is functioning correctly is an integral part of furnace maintenance. Issues such as dead batteries, loose wiring, or dust accumulation within the thermostat can lead to malfunctioning. This in turn affects furnace performance. By keeping your thermostat in good working order, you can help extend the life of your furnace, maintain energy efficiency, and ensure consistent comfort throughout your home. Regular professional inspections and homeowner vigilance in observing thermostat behavior can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.