Getting a simple Heating Tune-Up can cut your monthly energy costs by up to 30%.
To ensure peak heating performance, Quality Comfort Heating & Air recommends performing an annual Heating Tune-Up. With your monthly energy savings a Quality 26-Point Heating Tune-Up will pay for itself!
Quality Comfort also offers an annual Preventative Maintenance Program that combines our 15-Point Air Conditioning Tune-Up and 26-Point Heating/Furnace Tune-Up. The Preventative Maintenance Program starts at $159, which is an annual savings of 15% compared to scheduling each service separately.
Quality Comfort’s 26-Point Heating Tune-Up:
Every time a 26-Point Heating Tune-Up is completed, Quality Comfort will do the following:
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Clean and Check Gas Burners
To ensure smooth ignition, burner flames are observed for proper height, color, and alignment of burning.
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Clean and Check Pilot and Pilot Tube
The pilot flame needs to be checked to make sure that it is not abnormally large or small. If it’s too large, it wastes gas and makes the system dirty. If it’s too small, it can affect the system start-up, causing a no-heat condition.
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Check Flame Baffle (or Ribbons)
The flame baffle or ribbon spreads flame evenly across the entire heat exchanger length. If misaligned, clogged with rust and dirt, or cracked, it improperly spreads flame, creating hot spots in the heat exchanger. This can result in sooting or cracks in the metal. It also takes longer to heat the home, because it takes longer to heat up the furnace.
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Set Manifold Gas Pressure
Proper pressure is required to control fuel input to the furnace burners. If it is too low, the safety equipment does not operate properly, and it also takes too long to heat the home. If it is too high, it can damage the equipment.
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Check Gas Input
The Gas Utility Company attempts to regulate the pressure of gas coming into the gas valve, but pressures fluctuate and the level needs to be checked periodically.
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Set Burner Air Adjustment
It is important to precisely mix air and natural gas before igniting it. If the mixture is too heavy, it results in a poor burning situation and can create carbon monoxide.
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Check Fan Control
Through normal usage, the fan control can get out of mechanical adjustment by as much as 30 degrees. In order to deliver the proper temperature of air into the home, It’s important to ensure that the fan turns on and off at predetermined temperatures.
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Inspect Gas Valve and Piping
Visually check the gas valve and piping for signs of corrosion and leaks, check for the odor of leaking gas, and listen for abnormal noises such as chattering and gas flow restriction.
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Check Pilot Safety/Thermocouple/ Spark Ignition
This safety device senses the loss of pilot flame and shuts down the main burners, to ensure that natural gas is not coming into the home without some way of igniting it properly.
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Inspect Combustion Chamber
Check for signs of shooting, cracks, and deformity within the combustion chamber, to ensure proper fuel combustion and avoid the possibility of creating carbon monoxide in the house.
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Check Temperature Rise
Check the actual degrees of temperature rise throughout your system to determine if the furnace is appropriately heating the home. If the temperature rise is too high, it causes the furnace to bump the high-limit switch of the furnace, and can stress the heat exchanger. If the temperature rise is too low, condensation could form rust in the furnace.
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Check Blower Motor (Belt and wires, if applicable)
Proper maintenance, adjustment, alignment, and cleanliness of the blower and components are necessary for adequate airflow.
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Lubricate Blower and Bearings (If possible – some are permanently lubricated)
Lubrication of the blower in the furnace reduces friction, allowing it to operate more quietly and inexpensively. Proper lubrication will also extend the blower’s life by keeping it running cooler.
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Check Wiring Assembly
Loose connections cause improper voltage to various components, making them inoperative or resulting in eventual failure.
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Check Air Filtration System
Many kinds of air filters are used on heating systems: electronic, replacement media, electrostatic, and the common hardware store disposable filter. A dirty filter can reduce the airflow over the heat exchangers, resulting in inadequate heating of the home, or it may shorten the life of furnace components. Dirty air filters are a major cause of increased utility bills and expensive furnace repairs.
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Check Equipment and Ventilation Space
Visual check of the furnace location to ensure clearance for servicing and from combustible materials. The furnace closet or area should not be used for storage.
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Check Flue and Venting
Verify proper fuel draft and to identify flue obstructions, which could cause dangerous Carbon Monoxide to leak back into the home, presenting a health risk to the occupants.
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Check Limit Control
This is the principal furnace control to prevent overheating or damage to the unit and housing structure. Failed limit controls can cause house fires.
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Check Heat Anticipator
Located in the thermostat, the heat anticipator controls proper heater cycling.
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Check Thermostat Contacts
A malfunctioning thermostat will call for more or less heating than desired, wasting energy and money, and resulting in discomfort.
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Check Voltage and Amperage on Motors
Improper voltage and amperage can significantly reduce the life of the blower and inducer motors.
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Check Safety Interlock Switch (where provided by code)
Essential for proper protection of anyone opening the bottom panel of the furnace.
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Perform Carbon Monoxide Test
Carbon Monoxide, though potentially very hazardous to your health, is tasteless, colorless, and odorless. Homeowners are usually not aware that Carbon Monoxide is present in their homes until this test is performed.
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Duct Inspection
Dirt buildup in the heating and cooling ductwork limits air movement, and can severely block the system. Most secondary heat exchangers have only 1/16″ of air clearance, and can easily become clogged with dirt. Dirty air conditioning coils drastically affect the efficiency of the cooling system and shorten system life.
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Make Final Operation Check
Verify that system is fully functional.
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Advise Customer of Results of Check
Provide complete results Heating Tune-Up and advise customer of the current condition of the heating and cooling system.
Don’t wait for your Furnace to stop working to give us a call!
To schedule a 26 Point Heating/Furnace Tune-Up, call Quality Comfort at 317-395-7797 today!
