How To Check Your Home Furnace In 7 Steps
Furnace maintenance is one of the most important parts of owning a home. A malfunctioning furnace can be an expensive problem for homeowners, which is why it’s so crucial to perform regular checks on your furnace. Read on to see the steps in checking your furnace at home.
What To Expect During A Routine Furnace Inspection
It is important to know what to expect during a furnace inspection. The person performing the home inspection will likely come with many tools and equipment they use for inspecting your heating system including temperature gauges, moisture meters, pressure detectors, gas analyzers, and many more. They also need space to move around and get a good look at your furnace. This may mean removing furniture or other items from the room where they will be doing their work. The time frame for an inspection can vary depending on how long it takes to complete what needs to be done, but you should expect that it won’t take more than half an hour or so during which time you’ll need to place yourself out of the way in another area of the home until they are finished.
7 Steps In Checking Your Home Furnace
A furnace can be a very useful thing to have in your home. It is not only used during the winter months, but it can also help keep you cool if your air conditioning goes out. Here are seven steps that will guide you through checking your own furnace for any problems or malfunctions that may need to be repaired:
Step #1: Check Electric Controls
It’s important to make sure that the current and voltage are safely flowing between you, the thermostat, contactors, all while operating in compliance with safety standards. Check these connections for any problems before it causes an electrical short circuit or power disruption which could lead not only to dangerous situations but also extensive repair work on some very expensive equipment.
Step #2: Burner Inspection And Cleaning
Turn off the gas supply to your furnace. It’s best if the main is turned completely off and not just at a low flow rate as this can cause incomplete combustion of fuel which will put more contaminants into your home air quality during the heating season. If you have someone helping, verify that they know how to turn on an outdoor valve safely before letting them go near it without supervision.
Step #3: Examine Heat Exchanger
Check the heat exchanger on your furnace. This is a tube-shaped metal structure inside of the unit that contains water and air, which heats up during operation. The tubes can become rusty or warped with age, leading to reduced heating efficiency as well as safety concerns such as carbon monoxide leaks from cracks in them.
Step# 4:Test Ignition System
New furnaces use an electric igniter that doesn’t require a constant pilot light and flame. The most common type of electric system is what’s called hot surface ignite, where heat from the filament causes natural gas to ignite when electricity passes through it for combustion processes to take place inside your home heating unit located at a base level near your faucet, you will know this one because there are usually two large pipes coming out with flames shooting out of them. Other types may have intermittent pilots which create sparks by unlocking timed mechanisms so they can turn off during certain periods without using any fuel sources themselves.
Step #5: Check The Exhaust System
The exhaust system of your furnace is an important part, as it’s responsible for venting out harmful gases. When you check the exhaust system, make sure that there are no obstructions in the path leading to where the gas needs to go. If there are any obstructions present after checking this, call a heating contractor immediately. A blockage can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.
Step #6: Check Gas Pressure
Your furnace is a gas-fired appliance, which means you’ll want to make sure the fuel pressure in your home is high enough for it to run. High or low pressures can damage it and reduce efficiency, so always consult with an HVAC technician before doing anything yourself. A good way to check this quickly is by turning off all appliances that use natural gas and then checking the reading on the gauge at your meter box using a special tool called a gas detector pen.
Step #7: Gas And Oil Connections Should Be Tested
These are the only remaining connections that should be tested. They include things like outdoor gas line hookups, the bi-metallic control switch on older furnaces, and other aspects of your furnace’s components. These can all lead to serious safety problems if they aren’t working properly or have become corroded over time.
You may be asking yourself how to check your home furnace. We’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide on what to expect during a routine inspection and 7 steps in checking your home furnace. If any of these items sound unfamiliar or confusing, don’t worry, our team of experts is here for you every step of the way, just give us a call.
Do You Need a Home Furnace Installer You Can Trust?
Superior Mechanical Services, Inc. began in 1948 as a family-owned business with a vision to provide value-minded service with a down-to-earth approach to customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. As the premier Commercial and Residential HVAC Service provider for Livermore, Dublin, and Pleasanton, Superior Mechanical can do it all, from heating and air conditioning services to boiler services, to plumbing services. Our technicians are certified professionals who will ensure every part of your project is done right using a careful checklist to guide and test each step. At the end of your appointment, we’ll show you how to get the most out of your new system and give you tips on maintenance so it lasts for years to come. Contact us today for amazing service tomorrow!
