The timing of your fall furnace tuneup can make all the difference in extending the benefits of the service. It’s generally true that regular furnace tune-ups afford homeowners the benefits of extended system life, better efficiency, system safety, energy savings and home comfort. Ensuring that you schedule a tune-up before the heating season begins secures an additional benefit: You’ll decrease the likelihood of having to endure a midseason breakdown.

Beyond the importance of timing, the tasks that a heating technician performs during a fall furnace tuneup is also paramount. Your technician must include certain key preventive and safety components during service to keep your furnace running at peak efficiency.

These tasks should include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Testing airflow
• Ensuring a safe venting system so that carbon monoxide is prevented from accessing the home
• Inspecting the entire furnace system for dirt buildup and wear and tear
• A comprehensive cleaning of the furnace
• Replacing worn parts
• Changing the air filter
• Testing the system’s ignition components
• Checking the temperature differential on the supply and return portions of the ductwork
• Measuring air loss in the ductwork and sealing leaks when warranted
• Checking the furnace blower and its fan
• Inspecting all safety controls
• Lubricating parts as necessary, including the blower motor and bearings
• Checking that the burner and pilot light, if applicable, are operational and safe
• Inspecting the heat exchanger for early warning signs of cracking or wear and tear
• Testing the blower motor’s amperage and voltage, ensuring that it operates safely
• Checking electrical wiring and tightening connections
• Inspecting the furnace flue for efficient operation, as well as the draft diverter
• Calibrating the fan controls if necessary

Why not contact Smoky Mountain Heating & Air today for more information about the benefits of a fall furnace tune-up or to ask about our planned service agreements. Whether you need service for your HVAC equipment in your primary or secondary home, Smoky Mountain’s superior expertise and well-trained technicians have the solution for your home. Serving homeowners in the greater Asheville area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Image courtesy of Shutterstock