Heating System Maintenance

You can’t neglect your heating system and expect it to stay in good condition. To prevent your furnace from falling into disrepair, hire a professional to perform the following tasks:

• Change the filter
• Check airflow and fan controls
• Lubricate moving parts
• Check electrical connections
• Check burners
• Ensure proper thermostat calibration
• Inspect safety controls
• Check the gas line
• Tighten or replace belts
• Conduct an amp-draw test
• Inspect the condensate drain on a condensing furnace
• Check the heat exchanger for rust, cracks or corrosion

Schedule Annual Heating Repair and Service

The only item above you can accomplish without training is changing the filter. Enjoy the benefits of professional heating repair and service, including maximum performance, efficiency and safety. Don’t worry about forgetting to schedule maintenance next year when you sign up for and Aire Serv^® Total Comfort Tune-Up. The Total Comfort Tune-Up from Aire Serv includes a professional cleaning, adjustment and safety check.

Learn What Type of Heating System You Have

An important step to properly caring for your heating equipment is to learn what type you have. Then, you can increase your knowledge of your equipment and perform maintenance specific to your equipment between formal visits from a heating system expert. Rest assured that Aire Serv repairs and services all brands and types of heating systems.

Do you know what type of heating system you have in your home? If you have considered this knowledge unnecessary in the past, take into account that learning about your current heating system and properly maintaining it can extend its life, lower your heating costs, and ensure your family stays comfortable throughout the cold of the season.

Furnaces & Heaters

Sometimes referred to as forced air systems, these heating systems burn natural gas, propane, oil, or use electricity to heat your home, and are the most commonly used heating systems. Air is heated in the furnace and then distributed throughout your house via ductwork. Furnaces are typically found in closets, basements, crawlspaces, and attics. There are many concerns when deciding whether to choose a gas, oil, or electric furnace. Our technicians can help you make this difficult decision.

Do I have a Heat Pump?

Used in moderate climates, heat pumps offer both heating and cooling capabilities. Working like your refrigerator, they use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, depending on the season. These systems are typically split, with both an indoor cabinet as well as an outdoor metal cabinet housing components. Most systems work by moving air through ducts; however, ductless versions are available.

How to tell if you have a heat pump? The best way is to check your outside system; there is usually a label that specifies if it is a heat pump or an air conditioner. If no such designation exists, Google the model number and brand name. You can also check for horizontal brass pipes within your condensing units, which are unique to heat pumps. Finally, your thermostat may be able to help. If you have an emergency heat setting on your thermostat, you likely have a heat pump.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal heat pumps use the naturally consistent temperature of the earth to heat or cool the air in your home or business. They are known for being quiet and incredibly energy efficient, with drawbacks including the relatively high upfront cost and the potential disruption to your existing landscaping for installation.

Boilers

Boilers are made of two parts:

• A furnace that provides heat
• A vessel where water is converted to steam by heat piped in from the furnace

Boilers typically have pressure gauges, and may use electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil to operate. Heat created from hot water or steam is used to heat your home and may be distributed through baseboard radiators, radiant heat floor systems, or heating air via a coil. Boilers may also provide hot water to your home in addition to heat.

Package Units

Packaged units may be either electric or gas, and combine all system components into one cabinet which is typically found on a slab next to your home or on the roof. These systems combine both heating and cooling capabilities, eliminating the need for a separate furnace indoors. Ductwork is connected to the system through the roof or exterior wall and distributes heat or air throughout your home.

How to Safely Approach Your Heating System

The location of your heating system will vary depending on the type of system in your home. If you are having difficulty locating your heating system and your system uses ductwork, try following the ductwork to its source. If you are inexperienced, it is in the best interest of your safety to look with your eyes and not with your hands.

Regardless of your level of experience, be sure to enlist the help of an expert when servicing your heater and ask them how to properly handle routine maintenance for your particular model during the service call. Numerous reports are made every year to the Consumer Product Safety Commission resulting from incidents occurring with heating and air conditioning units such as electrocution, lacerations, cuts, bruises, strains, and sprains.

Low Heating Bills Are the New Hot Thing—Call to Find Out More!

For help determining what type of heating system your home uses, contact Green Apple Mechanical at 201-300-5554. Our technicians have the knowledge and skills needed to service all types of heating systems and can help you set up a routine maintenance schedule to keep your system operating at peak efficiency.

When to Repair or Replace

It’s impossible to keep a furnace running indefinitely. There comes a time in every furnace’s life when it no longer performs at the level you need. When that happens, a replacement makes more sense than a repair. Here’s how to tell if it’s time to replace your furnace:

• Age: If your furnace is well over a decade old, it could be time to replace it.
• Repair frequency: Is this the second or third repair this year? Is a looming repair close to half the cost of a new system? Stop throwing away money and put your funds toward a high-efficiency replacement.
• Energy bills: Rising energy costs could be one reason your heating bills are higher than a few years ago, but it’s also likely due to your aging furnace losing its ability to perform efficiently. A steady increase in energy bills is a sign that your furnace is past its prime.
• Comfort: Higher energy bills combined with diminished indoor comfort is incredibly frustrating. Uneven temperatures, trouble keeping up with demand, and cold air exiting supply registers are signs of a pending furnace replacement.

Green Apple Mechanical is committed to providing top-quality heating repair and service while maintaining a respectful attitude toward you and your home. Our world-class technicians know how to treat you with respect and courtesy, and we are always available to ensure that you receive help when you need it. We charge by the job, not by the hour, and we promise that you will be satisfied with your furnace repair or we will correct it at no cost to you.

To schedule your heating repair and service with Green Apple Mechanical, contact us today. We’re happy to answer all your questions.