When winter is in full swing, chances are your heating system is working hard to keep your home warm. But during the busy holidays, you may have forgotten to service your furnace.

It’s not too late. Having your furnace checked now will ensure it runs safely and efficiently the rest of the chilly season. You can take care of some furnace maintenance yourself.

Most jobs, including an annual tune-up, are best left to specialists trained to service furnaces. A professional inspection should cover all the parts of your furnace.

The following tasks  included in a service call.

• Oiling the blower axle on an older belt-driven furnace. Today’s blowers have direct-drive motors that don’t need to be lubricated.
• Cleaning soot out of the burner and heat exchanger. Residue buildup reduces your furnace’s efficiency.
• Inspecting the blower blades.
• Setting the flow of gas, and adjusting the flame’s size and color.
• Changing the fuel filter in an oil-fired system.
• Checking the heat exchanger for cracks. The furnace may have to be taken apart to do this correctly.
• Checking a heat pump’s compressor, fan, and refrigerant pressure.
• Cleaning a heat pump’s indoor and outdoor coils.

Also replace or clean the furnace filter–in most cases, once a month. Exactly how often, however, depends on your filter type and whether your furnace runs continuously. And if you have an in-duct humidifier, clean its reservoir with white vinegar and regularly treat the water with chlorine tablets to control mildew.

Should you have any further questions, feel free to contact us by phone or complete the form below to schedule a service appointment.