With summer coming to a close and fall right on its heels, it’s hard to imagine that it’s already time for another HVAC system tune-up. However, your community based HVAC contractor recommends these for one simple reason: there is no worse time to be without heat than in the middle of the coldest day of the year.

Having fall maintenance performed on your HVAC system can often guarantee that you will not see or experience a single breakdown during those cold winter nights we all dread so much.

When it gets cold and your system breaks down or fails entirely, people are left wishing they had just signed up for that annual maintenance.

So, what can you expect from your technician during a maintenance visit? This might include, but is not limited to:

• Verifying that the thermostat is accurate, the heat anticipator is set, and advising the homeowner to change the batteries

• Checking for updates and faults

• Cleaning flame sensor or pilot assembly

• Cleaning the condensate trap

• Inspecting the heat exchanger

• Checking the venting

• Checking the rubber drain tubing for obstructions or cracking

• Checking the electrical connections

• Checking the filter(s)

• Checking and adjusting gas pressure to manufacturer’s specifications

• Checking temperature rise

• Turning the furnace off and on at thermostat to verify operation

• Setting the thermostat to the homeowner’s preference

Not only does maintenance keep your house comfortable, it can help with detecting problems early on and potentially save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. An experienced HVAC technician will be able to spot areas that might cause your unit trouble and prevent a small and easy fix from turning into a costly repair down the road.

This short maintenance visit can often extend the life of your HVAC unit and will make sure you get the most out of your system.