There are many reasons to perform regular maintenance on your home heating system, increased safety being the most important. Regularly serviced units are less prone to fire danger and possible carbon monoxide leaks.
A regularly maintained unit is also more energy efficient. It runs smoother and uses less energy. This can result in substantial saving on your energy bill. It can also affect overall long-term repair expenses.
“If you don’t have it serviced, you’ll be looking at some high costs on repairs of things like a blower motor,” said Bel Red Heating and Air Conditioning service manager Darrick Philp.
In the face of these good reasons and with chilly fall weather making increased demands on your home heating system, this is the best time to perform any necessary maintenance, replaceme 0nts and repairs.
It’s not uncommon for homeowners with forced air or central heat to skimp a little on the maintenance. One of the drawbacks of an automated heating system is that it’s easy to just set the thermostat and forget the few steps required to keep it in good working order.
Ideally, you need to inspect filters monthly. Dirty filters reduce furnace efficiency and make the system run harder. They can increase the danger of the motor burning out. This is also the case if the blower assembly is left to collect dirt.
While filters are easy for the homeowner to change, blower assemblies and other parts of the furnace or heat pump system are a little more complex in their care.
They require some expertise, especially if they’re gas. Philp recommends having a professional inspect and clean your system annually.
“We do an inspection of the heat exchangers for safety,” he said. “We check them for cracks and rust so we can make sure there’s no carbon monoxide leakage into the home. We remove the burners out of the system, inspect them for wear and clean them.”
Technicians can also make recommendations on upgrades to assist asthma and allergy suffers. The cost of an annual inspection like this is more than compensated when homeowners add up the increased energy saving and the prevention of future high-cost repairs. Just one-sixteenth of an inch of dirt on a blower can cut air flow 30 to 50 percent and put it at higher risk of burnout.
While you’re having your heat system inspected, it’s also a good time to have the professionals look at your air conditioning. Philp cautions homeowners against putting a cover over their outdoor air-conditioning units for the winter. Too many people forget the unit is covered, he said, and when warm weather comes around they switch on the air-conditioning system with dire results.
“With that cover on there, it will burn out the compressor within about an hour or so,” he said. “It’s more common than you think.”
The increased cost of energy has caused many homeowners to turn to more cost-effective zone heating rather than heating an entire house with forced air. Some of the most common zone heaters include wood, pellet and gas stoves.
These involve a little bit more maintenance than a central heating system. Both wood and pellet stoves need to be stocked and ashes regularly removed. The insides should be thoroughly brushed at the same time. The model’s instruction manual can provide more detailed instructions of the recommended tasks.
It’s a good idea to create a regularly scheduled routine for these jobs to make sure they get done. As with forced air and heat pumps, it’s also a good idea to have a company come out to do annual maintenance.
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends professional inspection and cleaning of the stove’s chimneys, flues or vents each year. Failure to do so can increase your risk of chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Other maintenance depends on the type of fuel used. For weekly maintenance, done by the homeowner, a pellet stove can be much easier. For annual maintenance, done by a professional, the reverse is true.
“Wood is a lot easier,” said George Clayton, owner of Hometown Heating in Marysville. “There’s not much you have to do for a wood stove. But there are a couple of fans and things on a pellet stove that must be cleaned.”
Natural gas is one of the most affordable and the cleanest burning fuels. But even these stoves have a few care requirements. Homeowners should keep glass and blowers free from dust and dirt. They also need to occasionally be seen by a professional.
“Mostly it’s cleaning the glass, the fan and checking over all the electronics,” Clayton said.
There are some people who use an open hearth fireplace for heat. This method of heating is not the most efficient. Ideally, it’s far better to use a gas, wood or pellet insert inside the fireplace.
As with wood and pellet stoves, a fireplace chimney needs cleaning and inspection once a year to reduce risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. Because the built-up creosote inside a chimney is a carcinogen, this is a job best left to the professionals.
Many newer homeowners are now turning to radiant heat. This form of under-the-floor heating is almost maintenance free for the homeowner. However, most manufacturers still recommend an annual inspection and servicing of the pump on the popular and most efficient hydronic systems.
Radiant heat can cause some additional floor maintenance if the homeowner has solid hardwood floors. This particular type of flooring is subject to cracking and splitting from the heat. Newer laminate wood floors and other surfaces should not
be affected.
Wall heaters and baseboard heaters are virtually maintenance free. While homeowners should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions, most simply require periodic dusting or vacuuming.
A final type of zone heater is the electric portable space heater. These should be brushed or blown free of dust while unplugged. The product manual can give you detailed instructions for the best way to do that. It is not recommended that you attempt any other maintenance or repairs yourself. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that all servicing be done by a qualified service center.
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