Before the winter arrives, the first thing you need to do for yourself and your family is to make sure that your furnace is running safely and in the most energy-efficient way. On the first cold day, you don’t want to turn on your furnace and discover that it is not working. Even when you have installed the best furnace model in your home, you need furnace repair Palo Alto and also take other measures to upkeep your furnace’s health. Here are a few steps to confirm that your furnace is ready to face the winter.
Change the Furnace Filter
Some suggest changing the air filters every three months, whereas, others suggest doing it on a monthly basis. The regularity of changing the air filters depends on your usage and the way you maintain it. Whether you prefer to change the air filters every month or not, take a look at the filter every 30 days. You will be able to decide if they need to be changed or not. If the filters seem to be in a good condition, you can avoid changing them.
Change the Thermostat Setting
During the summer months, you definitely have to keep your thermostat setting to ‘cool’. Your HVAC system thus provides you cold air to stay comfortable. But during the winter, cold air is the last thing that you want inside your home. Therefore, the thermostat setting should be in ‘heat’ and ensure that it is in a good condition. Change the batteries of the thermostat if necessary.
Clean the Heat Exchanger
You need to clean the heat exchanger before switching on your furnace during the winter. During a professional heating repair San Jose, the technician will look for any cracks or leakages in the heat exchanger, so that you can be safe from carbon monoxide leaks in your home.
Clean and Lubricate the Blower Motor
You need to consult the manual which comes with your furnace, to check if the blower motor of the furnace needs lubrication. If it does, you can turn off the power and open the cover to clean it thoroughly. Don’t forget to remove the caps and lubricate the bearings.
Check the Igniter Switch
If you have an older furnace system, you might need to re-light the pilot. New furnace systems have electronic igniters, and you can push the reset button if the igniter is not working. If the igniter does not work even after the trick, check the breaker. If it’s still not working, call for a professional furnace repair San Jose.
Check the Chimney
The chimney of the furnace can be the house of a carbon buildup. A professional HVAC contractor can inspect it periodically. Routine checkups and replacement of carbon monoxide detectors also help protect you and your home from possible fire hazards.
You can perform some of the above steps at home while the rest require an authorized HVAC technician. If you are looking to tune up your heating device or a furnace replacement in San Jose, call Malibu Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. and schedule an appointment.
