Winter nights in Galveston, TX, can get downright chilly. The last thing you want on a cold winter night is for your furnace to stop working. Regular maintenance from HVAC professionals can extend the life of your HVAC equipment, especially your furnace. Improving the efficiency of your equipment not only saves you money but also provides peace of mind, ensuring your furnace operates reliably when you need it most.
Check Your Air Filters
Our HVAC technician checks your furnace’s air filter during annual maintenance. Keeping the filter clean and replacing it based on the furnace manufacturer’s recommendations helps prevent airborne illnesses, minimizes allergens, and maintains your furnace’s optimal functioning. Debris accumulation in the furnace filter forces the furnace fans to work harder to pull and push air through the filters. This results in increased energy costs and inconsistent temperatures throughout your home. Air filters are relatively inexpensive and easy to change, so change them every 1-2 months depending on consistent use, pets, and smoking inside your home.
Clean Your Furnace
You need to schedule regular cleaning for your furnace, just like your daily, weekly, or monthly housecleaning routine. A dirty furnace will not produce heat as efficiently as a clean one. The dirtier a furnace gets, the higher the chance for critical components to fail. A clean furnace is an energy-efficient furnace, keeping costs down. Our HVAC technicians at George’s Air Conditioning can help you by scheduling annual furnace cleanings. We know which parts should be cleaned and have the tools and expertise to safely clean the motor, blower, filter systems, and other critical components.
Clean the Vents
Professionals should clean the ducts annually. This is especially important if your home is older or if you have furry pets. Cleaning the ductwork and the vents removes dander and dust and allows HVAC professionals to search for leaks in the ductwork that could impact your furnace’s efficiency. We will also check for mold buildup.
Inspect the Pilot Light
One of the most irritating things for homeowners is to have to spend the night without heat and worry that there is a major issue with their furnace, only to realize that the orifice on the pilot light is clogged. During annual maintenance, our HVAC tech will review the condition of the pilot light and ensure that it is getting a steady, sufficient flow of gas. As a homeowner, you can evaluate the condition of your pilot light by looking at the color of the flame. If the flame is blue, everything should be functioning well. If you notice that the pilot light is yellow or another color, this indicates a problem and needs to be checked by a professional. If you see that your pilot light is off or constantly shuts off on its own, this could be a potentially dangerous situation that you want your HVAC tech to review and fix.
Inspect Thermostat and Wires
The thermostat is the brain of your HVAC system. If your thermostat is poorly positioned in the house, it may not accurately gauge the temperature in your home. This can lead to your furnace not activating when it needs to or running longer than it should. Grime can build up inside the thermostat, compromising its ability to accurately gauge the temperature in the home. Older thermostats may not stay level, especially if the house has shifted. This can make the thermostat almost useless when keeping the correct temperature in the home.
Improper thermostat installation can lead to improper wiring. Most times, this will fry the thermostat. This is why all thermostat maintenance, repair, and inspection should be left to HVAC technicians.
Clean Dirty Sensors
Another common reason furnaces do not function is because they have a dirty flame sensor. When that happens, the sensor cannot detect the flame’s heat, so the unit stops working altogether. During your annual furnace maintenance and inspection, technicians can clean the sensor and ensure it functions properly. If needed, they can recommend repairing or replacing the sensor.
Working With the Best Heating and Cooling Company in Galveston
At George’s Air Conditioning, we are proud to be Galveston’s best heating and cooling company. We gauge success by our ability to provide quality customer service, value our customer’s opinions, and educate our customers as opposed to just rushing through the work. We’ve been in the business for a long time and get better yearly. Our services include HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance. We install heat pumps and ductless systems and work on commercial and residential HVAC. We offer indoor air quality testing and are proud to offer financing for individuals on approved credit. Contact George’s Air Conditioning today to see how we can help you stay cool and happy.
