Oil and gas furnaces require regular maintenance in order to provide years of trouble free service. Each furnace part works with others in order to provide warm air for the home. It is quite the tragedy for a furnace to stop working in the dead of a cold winter because a furnace part failed. This sad situation can be prevented if you keep your furnace parts working in tandem to provide the heat that keeps the family safe and comfortable.
Troubleshooting can often give an idea of what furnace part may need replaced. There are many signs pointing to the failure of a specific furnace part. The problem could be electrical or mechanical in nature. For most cases, a professional repairman will be needed. However, it is always good to know how each furnace part works. An owner’s manual for your brand and model of furnace will prove to be helpful. It may take a service call to let you know what furnace part is recommended to fix the problem.
Each furnace has its own specific parts based on brand. Dealers and Servicemen for Bryant, Carrier, Goodman, Trane and other top manufacturers often carry and sell the specific furnace part you need. Many parts can also be purchased online for a substantial savings. Then a repairman can be paid for his labor only, saving you the cost of an inflated furnace part. Some will require purchase from the manufacturer’s approved Dealers and Service Agents in order to meet warranty requirements. It is not wise to replace a furnace part on your own if your furnace is under warranty.
Be sure to check the warranty for the furnace, because some parts may be covered. Depending on the warranty, the labor to make the repair and replaced the furnace part may be covered as well. Because furnaces are designed to provide years of service, you may go for a long time without having to replace a furnace part. But they will wear eventually and break or stop working. Warranties are a must to keep the cost of replacing a furnace part low.
Furnaces also have a filter to protect the motor and blower from dust and dirt. If the filter gets clogged, it can cause serious damage to your furnace. Most furnaces should have their filters changed monthly, but check the owner’s manual for your model of furnace.
The number one maintenance tip that will help your furnace or air conditioning unit last longer, without problems and also run more efficiently is also the cheapest and easiest to perform. Change your filter. Dirty filters can ruin a unit’s efficiency making your system run for extended periods of time as it try’s to bring your house to the proper temperature. This wear and tear shortens the life of your furnace and will send your energy bill through the roof. Always turn off the power to your furnace before changing your filter.
New furnaces can be serviced every few years, but furnaces older than ten years old should be checked over once a year. The blower should be oiled two times a year if it does not have sealed bearings check your owner’s manual for instructions. You should also check the fan belts for any sign of wear and replace as needed.