The fall season brings along colder temperatures, and homeowners know this is the ideal time to prepare for the winter months ahead. There are numerous chores that need to be done, including cleaning the gutters and sweeping the chimney. However, there is one task that all homeowners should make a priority. That one task is to check and maintain their heating system. It’s important for a heating system to be ready for the winter. The truth is that many people don’t do this task until winter has officially arrived and they are facing issues with their heater.
When a heater is serviced once a year, it usually runs more efficiently and with less breakdowns. If you neglect maintenance of your heater, then it may break during the wintertime. This is because winter is when your heating system is used the most. We have seen this happen many times, especially with older systems.
It’s important for homeowners to have their systems checked annually. The ones who don’t do this are usually the ones that are stuck with costly emergency repairs or replacements. If you own a home, then there are a few maintenance tasks you should do in addition to having a professional inspect it annually.
Air Filter Replacement
Disposable filters are inside both air conditioners and furnaces, and it’s important to change them regularly. Dust and particles get caught in air filters. This prevents debris from spreading throughout your home.
Air filters offer many benefits. When they lose their effectiveness due to aging or dirt buildup, then those benefits won’t be experienced. Not only that, but health problems can arise as a result of dirty filters. If you want to avoid any issues, then you want to change the air filter regularly.
Don’t buy the cheapest filter possible because it’s important to choose a quality filter. A quality one will do a good job at catching particles and your system will run more efficiently. Not only that, but a good filter maintains proper air flow, which also helps. This reduces the chances of emergency”no-heat” calls.
Look for the MERV number when you are looking for a filter because this helps you determine how effective it is. The numbers range from 1 to 12 and 12 is the best quality and most reliable. A lot of people wonder how often they should change their filter, but this depends on their home environment and set-up. Generally speaking, you can refer to an article that was published by United Filters:
Your furnace filter should be checked monthly. Typically, most manufacturers recommend changing the filter every 3-6 months. Time between replacement is dependent on many factors. This can include the quality of the filter, time of year, presence of pets, allergy considerations, operation cycle of HVAC equipment. Often, simply looking at the filter can indicate whether it needs to be changed.
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Your situation determines when you should change heating system filters. If you have pets or are surrounded by a lot of dust, then you may have to change your filters more often than others. As a rule of thumb, check your filter once per month and change it every three months. If the filter is dirty beforehand, then change it as soon as possible.
Maintaining Heating Oil Level
Before winter arrives, you want to check your system’s oil level. Asides from that, you should hire a maintenance technician to inspect your system and to provide it with a tuneup once per year. If you own an outdoor tank, then consult with your oil provider whether or not you should buy and add anti-gelling additive. Anti-gelling additive are used when the outside temperature drops to extreme lows.
In order to catch problems as early as possible, you should inspect your tank every now and then. Look for things such as cracks, rust, and oil leaks. Check for water in the tank because water can harm your system. If your tank isn’t full, then moisture can form, which can attract bacteria. Look for grit and other residues because these deposits can wreck your tank over time. It also causes fuel lines to become clogged.
In the following article by Heating Oil Express, they discuss the importance of keeping your tank full:
Water can be even more dangerous. Most of the water in the tank comes from condensation, which is a result of difference in temperatures inside and outside the tank. As water is also heavier than oil, it will collect on the tank’s bottom. Water deposits represent a good place for growing various bacteria, and these bacteria release acid which may lead to tank corrosion. And corrosion means oil leaks.
Don’t let the oil in your tank run out! When that happens all the sludge from the bottom of your tank would end up clogging your filters and you’ll most likely need a burner service to change the oil filters and clean up your furnace.
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Don’t allow heating oil tank to fall to low levels. It is crucial to ensure your tank stays full, so do your best to check oil levels regularly and schedule a delivery when necessary. The best scenario is to contact your oil provider and ask about automatic oil delivery service.
Maintaining your tank properly can preserve your system’s life. It can also preserve your health and everyone in your family. If you leave leaks unchecked, then your drinking water may become contaminated and your property’s value may be reduced. Oil leaks are not good for the environment and an oils leak can be expensive to clean up.
Oil tanks that are completely full rarely suffer from rust, nor do they produce condensation. Never let your tank run completely dry. If you do run out of oil, then you’ll need to have an emergency oil delivery and most likely a prime and start service call to get your heating system operational again.
Maintain Your Heating System
Check your system in the fall because this can prevent maintenance problems and keep the system running properly throughout the winter. In the following article by Service Master, they discuss some of the repercussions of neglecting your furnace:
8 Things That Could Happen Without Regular Furnace Maintenance
- Higher energy bills due to an overlooked furnace.
- Cracks in the Combustion Chamber.
- Possibly Void Manufacturer’s Warranty for Neglect of Furnace.
- Shortened Lifespan of Furnace
- Improper Ventilation
- Malfunctioning Safety Devices
- Could start a house fire.
- Possible Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Incomplete Combustion
- Puts the Health and Safety of Everyone in the Home at Risk
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You can save money and reduce stress levels by hiring an HVAC technician to inspect your heating system before the heating season starts. Not only that, but it also allows minor issues to be corrected before they turn into bigger issues. The bigger the problem, the more expensive it is to fix.
Better Home Heat Council focuses on educating consumers about oil heat. This includes topics like the economical and efficient use of oil heat. We also help homeowners with their energy efficiency issues. We have been able to find effective solutions to make their homes more energy efficient. We support local oil companies in the Lehigh Valley that provide a range of services and products. Click here to search for a trusted and professional home heating oil suppliers in your area. Many of our oilheat dealers also provide heating and cooling system service.