Spring is quickly approaching in Allentown, Pennsylvania, meaning furnaces will soon be turned off in favor of open windows and fresh air. The units have had a hard, chilly winter with the potential for some to conk out before the season completely closes, especially if homeowners wait until spring for their preventative maintenance servicing instead of doing it in the fall.
There is still the possibility for some winter storms into the early part of the spring season. We are not quite out of the woods yet, and no one wants to go without heat with that likelihood looming. It is wise to take some steps in household upkeep and consider an early spring preventative maintenance call to get things clean and ready for next year.
The local furnace repair contractors can detect defects before they turn into significant problems, clean the system, and repair and replace worn parts to ensure optimum functionality. The service providers can also advise on the best household care to continue peak performance throughout the following year. Let us look at a few tips on homeowner upkeep.
How To Prepare for Spring with Your Allentown PA Furnace
Residents in Allentown will soon be closing their furnaces for the cool breezes of spring but not yet. There is still some winter to be had over the next couple of months. March and April have surprised many with snowstorms and wintry weather over the years. That does not mean you cannot go ahead and work on household care for the year and even consider reaching out to your furnace contractor to schedule preventive maintenance.
You want to especially think about that if you waited until spring instead of doing it in the fall. After a long hard winter, the furnace can malfunction at the end of the season or even shut down, and no one wants that when there are still some pretty chilly days ahead. Let us look at a few steps you can take for homeowner upkeep to get ready for spring.
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Change out the air filter
To keep debris, allergens, dust, even insects out of the air ducts, so they do not come into the home environment, furnace filters are used to catch these.
When the air filter becomes clogged with these particles, it can reduce the airflow from the furnace to the household causing the heat exchanger to strain, eventually creating cracks in the system.
The suggestion is there can even be a “meltdown of the system.” Clogs in the filter make the system work twice as hard, causing the utility costs to rise and creating a fire hazard. When shopping for a filter, the recommendation is to find out from your furnace contractor which is the best for your specific unit.
The idea is to ensure you buy based on durability, quality, and efficiency above all else.
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Inspect the system
It might be wise to wait until it is a bit warmer to do this step; that is the most ideal time since you need to turn off the heat and the power. After doing that, inspect to see if you notice soot or residue either surrounding or on the unit once everything is cool.
That is an indication that a professional will need to come immediately to do a tune-up. Suppose you find debris surrounding the system, vacuum with a hand-held machine, or sweep. After cleaning the debris, the power can be switched on, as can the heat.
Check the power light to note the flame’s color. If there is good functionality, it will be blue-toned. If it is yellowish in color, the problem could be combustion-related, requiring the need for a professional inspection.
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Carbon Monoxide
A carbon monoxide detector should be in the home and needs to be checked to ensure it is functional. These devices are responsible for saving countless lives every year. They prevent harm to you and your family if carbon monoxide accumulates in the atmosphere. When fuel does not burn properly, it can elevate the level of carbon monoxide in the household creating danger for those in the home.
A furnace is a primary culprit for multitudes of poisonings and deaths from carbon monoxide. The substance is odorless with flu-like symptoms like nausea, headache, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Homeowners cannot detect the noxious substance, which is the crucial reason for having the detector. The recommendation is also to ensure its battery-operated to avoid shutting down with a power outage.
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Clear clutter
Clutter should never surround your furnace, especially hazardous or flammable materials. These should be kept in a separate area far away from the heating system.
Boxes and other belongings need to move away from around the system, so there is a clear passage. You and the service contractor need to be able to maneuver for maintenance and upkeep comfortably in the area.
The ceiling, walls, and floor should be kept clear of any dust, debris, or particles to avoid them blowing back into the furnace. You can brush these down with a brook or a damp mop.
Final Thought
Residents in Allentown, Pennsylvania, are still dealing with pretty frigid temperatures, but that’s no reason not to look forward to spring as far as their furnace goes.
There might be another snowstorm or maybe two. But if you did not schedule preventative maintenance with your furnace repair contractor in the fall, it is wise to reach out soon to have the system tuned up for the spring.
It is also a good idea to go ahead and work on household upkeep, as mentioned here. Any problems you take note of soot, unusual color pilot light require a call to the professionals right away. Go here for details on specific DIY furnace tips.
Once the furnace contractor cleans the system, replaces, or repairs old, worn parts, and does the tune-up, the system should function optimally next year. It will just be a matter of staying current with your homeowner’s care and maintenance in between the service calls.
