Heating System Tune Up
Save Heating Cost This Year by Having
a Heating System Tune Up
Overview:
As the summer months come to a close and
cooler weather settles in it is time to get a heating system
its tune up. It doesn’t make any difference
what type of heating system you heat with they all require
periodic tune ups.
If your heating system is baseboard
electric you have an easy task. But if your heating system
is a force hot air furnace or a hot water boiler then there
are a few things you need to do to insure maximum
efficiency. An inefficient heating system burns more fuel
that cost you money. A heating system tune up and a little DIY preventive maintenance can
save on your heating cost. Here are a few DIY tips to insure
that your heating system is operating efficiently.
Thermostats:
Check to
make sure your thermostat is accurate on the temperature
reading. Depending on the age of your thermostat or the
placement of the thermostat in the room it may not be
accurate. Replace the thermostat if it does not function
correctly. This is an easy DIY task.
Baseboard electric and hot water baseboard:
Clean inside the registers of all dust
and debris that has accumulated during the summer. Dirty
fins will not radiate heat as well as clean fins.
Furnace
filters:
Forced hot air furnaces have at least one
or more air filters. Inspect the filter(s) and change or
clean as necessary. A dirty filter can significantly reduce
the amount of air movement in the house making your furnace
less efficient. The filter should be checked or replaced at
least twice during the heating season.
Forced
Hot Air Furnace:
-
Make sure any belts on the furnace motor
are in good shape. Be sure to have an extra on hand in case
of breakage and replace them on a regular basis to avoid a
break.
-
Make sure the motor is properly oiled
according to your owner’s manual.
-
Hot air furnaces use gas or oil as a fuel
source to heat the air that circulates through the system.
The heating unit, often called a “gun” requires annual
cleaning. Most fuel suppliers provide this service. They
typically clean the fuel filters, the fuel jet in the burn
chamber, and adjust the burning efficiency of the furnace.
Ductwork:
-
Forced hot air heating systems uses a
series of air ducts to move the warm air throughout the
house. Check to make sure there is nothing blocking air flow
in the ducts, heat registers, or return registers. A couch,
kids toys, etc. placed over a vent register will greatly
reduce the effectiveness of your airflow and your furnace.
-
Clean your heating and cooling ducts at
every two years to insure efficiency. This will reduce your
heating cost and is good for your air quality as well.
Boilers:
If your heating system is a baseboard hot
water system, or hot air from an air handler, the boiler
needs special attention at least annually to insure
efficiency. Your fuel supplier usually provides this service
as it requires technical skills and special tools. The
burning chamber requires special attention as well as the
fuel jet in the burn gun and fuel filters. When cleaning is
complete the technician will adjust the burning efficiency
of the boiler. A clean boiler will operate at approximately
86.5% efficient whereas a dirty boiler will only burn at
approximately 80.0% or less. If your chimney is emitting
black smoke your boiler need immediate attention.
Wood
Burning Stoves:
-
Many homeowners in northern areas use
wood burning stoves to supplement their heating
requirements. Burning wood generates dust that will collect
in the primary heating system filters. Insure that you check
or replace the filters regularly.
-
The chimney and stove pipe should be
cleaned at least twice during the heating season to avoid
chimney fires and optimum efficiency of your wood burning
stove.
Safety:
If you are using a wood burning stove for
primary or supplemental heat, insure that you have
smoke/fire detectors installed and that the batteries are
fresh before the beginning of the heating season. Most of
the suggestions offered here can be performed by the
homeowner except for the cleaning of boilers and furnaces.
These tasks should be performed by a trained technician.
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