While you may not completely understand what your general practitioner is doing during your annual check-up, you like to be given a general idea. For instance, you always want him to describe the tests he is running and what he thinks you have wrong with you. And the same goes for your HVAC specialist. Even if you don’t understand all the technical jargon, you do want to know what’s going on in the basement when it comes time for your yearly furnace inspection.
As Joe Gratta of Atlantic Mechanical explains, when a specialist from his team arrives at your home, he will have an extensive checklist with him that covers all the parts of your furnace that need to be serviced or inspected, he says. Many of the outlined factors are things that the average homeowner might gloss over, but are still important to the overall functionality of the system. Instead of listing every single aspect of the inspection that will take place, Gratta says that your technician will be focusing on a few major areas such as:
- Filter change: If you’re not changing the filter on your furnace yourself, then the technician will do this for you to make sure that whatever dirt or debris has become trapped doesn’t inhibit the furnace’s performance level.
- Belt change: The furnace motor, which drives the blower, is powered by the belt. If you are having problems with furnace performance, then chances are the belt may need to be replaced. Instead of waiting for a problem to arise, the technician may replace the belt prematurely if it looks cracked or worn.
- Pressure check: The water, air and fuel sources inside your furnace are measured by gauges attached to the system for safety purposes. It’s important that these gauges are working properly as too little or too much pressure can wreak havoc on your system. In addition, the specialist will also check the pressure levels to make sure your furnace is operating ideally.
- Leak detection: It’s also important for the technicians to perform a visual leak detection check to confirm that you aren’t losing any unnecessary water or fuel which may force your furnace to work harder.
- Wire inspection: A once-over will be given to the wires around the furnace to ensure that everything is connected properly and securely and that nothing looks frayed or damaged.
Upon inspection, there are rarely any major or urgent repairs that need to be completed, says Gratta. Mostly, the repairs that are made after scheduled maintenance have to do with electrical problems, he adds, such as switches that aren’t working and valves that need to be turned on and off.
However, if you suspect that something is wrong with your furnace, because maybe you’ve noticed that your heating bill has skyrocketed or that the system is noisy, then you shouldn’t wait until your yearly check-up to bring it up. Most HVAC contractors are available throughout the day, and some even offer 24-hour service so that you can address the problem promptly before any severe damage is done.
