Depending on the units involved, heating services vary widely. Numerous modern homes utilize a furnace and forced air to warm their rooms. However, in older homes and certain parts of the country, units such as pellet stoves, heat pumps, and fireplaces remain common. Regardless of what heat source your home uses, a certified professional specializes in the maintenance of units for optimal use all season long.
Furnace
Whether you have an electric, oil, or gas-powered furnace, you should have a skilled technician perform an inspection annually to keep it working properly. Skilled technicians specialize in rectifying potential issues before wintertime. One of the things a professional will do is to look for rust in the heater’s parts. They may likewise inspect for leaking carbon monoxide and electrical dangers to help keep your family sheltered from the risk of running a compromised furnace.
If a unit is nearing the end of its life, a qualified expert can also help you decide on replacement options and discuss current upgrades on the market. Some of the more efficient systems can save you money in the long run.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are more commonly found in moderate climates, as their temperature conversion can be quite limited. In any case, certain models, for example geothermal, are becoming increasingly mainstream in colder climates too. A heat pump typically pulls air or heat from the ground and uses electricity and a blower to distribute warm air throughout the home. When performing an inspection, a professional will clean parts of the unit such as ducts, fan blades, and coils.
Fireplaces
Standard fireplaces aren’t as efficient when compared to the above-listed heating methods. However, electrical or gas fireplace blower inserts can be a cost-effective method for heating a home depending on home size, fireplace location, and local gas and electrical usage prices. Such inserts will have temperature control that can be easily installed into the existing fireplace by a service professional.
During an annual inspection, a technician will make sure the fan, vents, pilot light, and pilot safety system are in proper, safe, working order.
Stoves
Furnaces aren’t the only heating system requiring regular servicing, as wood and pellet stoves also require consistent maintenance. Apart from the week-by-week cleaning of debris the homeowner performs through the winter months, an expert can likewise perform fundamental upkeep before the stove use period. Stove maintenance helps improve its efficiency and can prevent your home from accidental fires.
During a cleaning, a professional will remove ash from the exhaust pipes, lubricate the engine, inspect cables and switches, clean different parts of the fire chamber, and more. Pellets have a cleaner burn than wood, thus making them a more environment-friendly choice over wood stoves. Nevertheless, annual maintenance is necessary to maintain a secure home throughout the winter. If there is a build-up of ash anywhere in the unit, this can lead to trouble functioning.
