Professional Heating Services
In the middle of winter, a furnace or other heat source in disrepair may leave a home feeling at best unpleasant and at worst agonizing. A damaged heat source can be the difference between wellness and a visit to a hospital in some areas of the country if the home is reduced to very low temperatures.
If the elderly, infants, and even healthy adults are exposed to cold temperatures even indoors, they can experience hypothermia after some time. While it may seem that they are just modern conveniences, an electric or gas heat source has become a necessity now. Some homeowners prefer using other ways of keeping themselves warm in the winter season. The moment that the heater does not function optimally anymore then this necessitates a quick repair.
By performing routine service every year one can avert ill-timed break downs, ideally before the start of the winter. Expert technicians specialize in heating services that provide families with the ultimate level of comfort. They can perform work that keeps the heat on so that families are comfortable during the winter months.
Homeowners typically get about 20 years of use out of a new furnace and 15 years from a heat pump. With regular tune-ups, a unit is more likely to reach a longer lifespan just like a car. Continue reading to learn more about equipment for heating homes and the importance of regular maintenance to help avoid emergency repair needs.
What do heating services professionals examine during an inspection?
Depending upon the units that are involved, heating services vary widely. A lot of modern homes today use a furnace and forced air to heat rooms throughout the home. Electric fireplaces, heat pumps, and pellet stoves, on the other hand, are often found in older homes or in certain parts of the country. A professional can service your heat source, no matter the type, and make sure you inhabit a comfortable temperature throughout the winter.
Furnace
Whether your furnace runs on oil, gas, or electricity, a skilled technician can have it inspected each year so that it continues working well. They can spot potential issues and fix them before they transform into winter-time crises. One of the things that this professional will do is to look for rust in its parts. Aside from that, he will also look out for carbon monoxide leaks and electrical hazards in it.
If a unit is nearing the end of its life, an expert can also help walk you through your options for an upgrade. When you look at running costs, a newer more efficient system may save you some money in the long run.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are more commonly used in places that have moderate climates. Despite that, there are certain models, for example geothermal, that are making these types more popular in cold climates as well. A heat pump utilizes the air from outdoors or the heat from the ground in combination with electricity and a blower to push warm air through your home. Professionals are specialized in inspections such as coils, fan blades and ducts cleanups, filter replacement, airflow output measurement, mechanical part lubrication, and thermostat operational verification.
Fireplaces
Standard fireplaces aren't as efficient when compared to the above-listed heating methods. Electric or gas fireplace inserts, on the other hand, can be a cost-effective option, depending on the size of the home, and location of the fireplace. The inserts generally include temperature control, and they are fairly easy for a trained technician to install them into your existing fireplace.
When conducting an annual inspection, an expert will make sure that the fan, vents, pilot light, and pilot safety system are all in proper working order.
Stoves
If you have a wood or pellet stove, it needs regular annual servicing to keep it running efficiently. Other than the week after week cleaning of debris the homeowner performs throughout the winter months, an expert can likewise perform basic upkeep before the period of stove use. Maintenance not only helps improve the unit's performance as it can also help keep a home safe from accidental fires.
A professional is going to clean ash from the exhaust pipes, lubricate the engine, inspect cables and switches, clean different parts of the fire chamber, and more. Pellets burn cleaner than wood, so they may be a better option for wood stoves. Yearly maintenance can make sure your home is safe throughout the winter no matter your stove type. Built-up ash located anywhere in the system is a disaster waiting to happen.
