How to Prevent Furnace Repair

A furnace is a powerful and effective way to heat your home, but it can be temperamental if it gets serviced infrequently. 

Repairs to the heating system can often be avoided. On other occasions, when we got there, the heating system wasn't working, and fixing it right away would have helped a lot. Use our guide to learn how to keep your gas or electric heater running well and avoid costly repairs.

Schedule Routine Furnace Tune-Ups

If you plan preventive maintenance for your heater now, it will work better this winter, and you won't have to pay as much for repairs. Many heating and cooling companies provide annual fall maintenance checks for heating systems. By checking and adjusting the heater, problems are less likely to happen when it is working the hardest.

The heating system’s ignition will be checked, the filters will be inspected, minor components will be adjusted, and the burners will be cleaned. This facilitates having the parts stay in good working order for longer.

Change the Air Filter

While professionals can inspect your furnace thoroughly once a year and make small changes, you should still change the filter on your furnace every 1 to 3 months.

You might need to give more thought to the air filter's role in the efficiency of your heater. The airflow to your system is impeded when it is dirty. The motors will have to work more than necessary to warm your home, which wastes energy. A lot of the time, we can avoid having to fix the furnace by simply changing the air filter.

Notice the Signs

It's possible that your heating system already needs servicing, and you're just ignoring the signs. However, it is preferable to identify the issue as soon as possible. A furnace repair that is delayed might quickly become out of hand. At the first hint of problems, immediately contact a technician.

• Fluctuations and drops in temperature.
• Certain areas of the house are unusually toasty.
• Strange sounds are coming from the machine.
• Short cycling.

Don’t Overwork the Heater

Last but not least, we recommend not making your heater work harder than it has to. Do you, for instance, crank up the thermostat when you arrive home from work on a chilly evening to hasten the rate at which your home heats up? However, this is not the case, as extended operation wastes energy and puts unnecessary strain on the system.

Instead, pick a comfortable temperature and set your thermostat accordingly before leaving work. The most convenient method to achieve this is installing a Wi-Fi thermostat, which can be adjusted anywhere.

Contact Best Owner Direct HVAC for speedy furnace repair in Hillsboro, Oregon, or to arrange routine maintenance to preserve your system.

Why You Should Schedule Heating Maintenance Annually

Neglecting routine maintenance on a perfectly functional heating system is a surefire way to invite trouble. You must take care of this maintenance every year, or you'll lose about 5 percent of your efficiency. However, if you get your heater serviced regularly, you can keep it running at 95% of its original efficiency for much longer. In addition, as we've already indicated, regular maintenance can eliminate the need for as much as 85% of the problems that could arise in the lifetime of your heater.

The heating in your home has seen better days. True of any substantial home appliance. We'll let you know if any minor repairs that came up during planned maintenance need to be made. To illustrate, consider the blower motor in your home heating system. The motor is securely fastened in place by bearings. Lubrication on the bearings prevents the motor from being damaged by the friction that happens during constant movement. Over time, the motor's bearings will wear down and cause more friction. The bearings should be oiled or replaced. When put in perspective, this is not a huge issue that needs fixing.

If you neglect to address this issue or are unaware of it due to a lack of preventative maintenance, the resulting friction will eventually cause the motor to overheat and the furnace or heating system to fail. Because of this, you'll have to spend more money on maintenance, on a brand new fan motor. That's one way that preventative maintenance can lengthen the time between heating system repairs.

“What Else Can I Do to Prevent Heating Repairs?”

To begin, swap out the filter in your forced-air heater. The air filter stops things like dust and dirt from getting into the system and hurting the parts inside. However, airflow is impeded when the filter is excessively clogged. If this is the case, your heating system (whether a furnace or a heat pump) may have to work harder than usual to achieve the temperature you've set. As a result, it consumes more electricity, which raises costs. But it also speeds up the wear and tear on your heater, leading to more frequent maintenance needs.

Don't hesitate to contact us when it's time to arrange the next scheduled service.