Ottawa Furnace Maintenance
Ottawa homeowners, as the temperatures dip and winter approaches, it’s crucial to ensure your furnace is ready to keep your home warm and comfortable. At Ideal Temp, we understand the importance of a well-maintained furnace, especially in our cold Ottawa winters. That’s why we offer comprehensive furnace maintenance services designed to provide you with peace of mind.
The Importance of Furnace Maintenance
Regular furnace maintenance is not just about keeping your unit running smoothly; it’s about prolonging its lifespan and ensuring it operates safely and efficiently. Without proper maintenance, your furnace could face a range of issues that might lead to costly repairs or even replacement.
What Sets Ideal Temp Apart
While some companies might spend as little as 20 minutes on a furnace maintenance call, we take a different approach. Our Ottawa HVAC technicians dedicate an hour and a half to thoroughly inspect your entire furnace system. These simple steps could avoid a future furnace repair service.
Here’s what our comprehensive furnace maintenance checklist service includes:
- Amp Reading: We check the electrical components to ensure they run within safe and efficient parameters.
During a routine maintenance visit, an HVAC technician will check the amp reading of your furnace. Here’s a simple breakdown of what that means:
- Electric Furnace: These typically use 60 to 80 amps and are connected to a 220-volt breaker. The power usage can range from about 10,000 to 50,000 watts, depending on the unit model.
- Gas Furnace: For gas units, the breaker size usually involves a 14-gauge wire with a 15-amp breaker or a 12-gauge wire with a 20-amp breaker. Larger gas units might require more than one circuit breaker.
- Electric Furnace: These typically use 60 to 80 amps and are connected to a 220-volt breaker. The power usage can range from about 10,000 to 50,000 watts, depending on the unit model.
- Understanding these details can help you better grasp the technical aspects of your unit maintenance.
- Certifying Safety Components: Safety is our top priority. We certify all safety components to ensure they function as they should. A thermocouple is an important safety component found in older furnaces that have a pilot light burning all the time. Its main job is to stop the gas flow to the unit if it senses that the pilot light has gone out, ensuring safety and preventing gas leaks. If the safety components are damaged, it’s possible that the technician will recommend a new unit be installed.
- Heat Exchanger Inspection: A tech will verify that the heat exchanger is not cracked, preventing potential carbon monoxide leaks. To inspect it, the technician will start by taking apart the furnace to inspect all the outside surfaces of the heat exchanger. The HVAC tech will be looking for any signs of leaks. Since the joints in furnace heat exchangers aren’t completely airtight, it’s normal for a little leakage to occur as water leaks are part of the combustion process. However, if you notice any unusual splits, cracks, or holes, it’s important to replace the warm air exchanger. Any leaks from the collector box will be addressed by the licensed technician.
- Energy Efficiency Fine-Tuning: Our technicians make adjustments to improve your furnace’s energy efficiency, saving you money on your energy bills.
- CO2 Test: We conduct thorough carbon dioxide testing to ensure your home’s air quality is safe and healthy.
- Pressure Switch and Gas Valve Inspection: These essential components are checked to ensure your furnace operates correctly.
- Furnace Filter Inspection: During a routine furnace upkeep appointment, the technician will inspect the air filter. With regular maintenance, an air filter should be replaced every 3 months. However, if you have pets the filter should be replaced every 2 months. A dirty filter can lead to a broken furnace as air flow is essential.
- Flame Sensor and Igniter Check: We inspect the flame sensor and igniter for issues that could prevent your furnace from starting.
- Leak Detection: If there are any water leaks from the collector box, our technicians will address them promptly.
- Check outdoor vent: A home comfort advisor or HVAC technician will usually not recommend a diy furnace maintenance, however one easy way to avoid furnace problems is to ensure the outdoor exhaust pipe is clear from snow build up.
Avoid Furnace Breakdowns with Ideal Temp Heating & Cooling
For just $120 plus tax, you can have peace of mind knowing that our team has thoroughly inspected every aspect of your furnace. Don’t get caught in the cold—call us today at 613-400-2737 to schedule your Ottawa furnace maintenance call.
What is a furnace cleaning?
A furnace cleaning involves a thorough check and cleaning of your furnace to keep it running safely and efficiently. This process includes cleaning key parts like the heat exchanger, combustion chamber, blower motor, and burners. It also involves testing the thermostat, gas pressure, and safety controls, inspecting for loose wires, electrical connections, and blockages, adjusting the burners and gas pressure, and replacing air and oil filters for oil-based furnaces. A written assessment of the furnace’s condition is also provided. Typically, a professional furnace cleaning takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, but this can vary depending on the size of your home and the furnace’s condition. Regular maintenance is crucial as it extends the lifespan of the furnace’s components and prevents major issues. While you can handle some routine maintenance tasks, it’s often best to leave more complex jobs to a professional. Signs that your furnace might need cleaning include frequent off-and-on cycling, poor or uneven heating, strange odors, unexpected increases in energy bills, unusual noises, and a pilot light that is yellow/orange or flickering.
Get Ready for the Winter Season
With Ideal Temp Heating and Cooling, you’re not just getting a quick check-up. You’re investing in a comprehensive service that ensures your furnace is in top condition, ready to face Ottawa’s harsh winters. With the heating season approaching, the best way to avoid a heating repair service call is by opting for a heating maintenance call. Don’t settle for less when it comes to your family’s comfort and safety. A maintenance plan is more affordable than a repair. Your HVAC system deserves the best service. Reach out to us and experience the difference our detailed service makes. When it comes to air conditioning (central air), heating systems, furnace issues, natural gas, home heating, indoor air quality, and tankless hot water heaters, call a professional service that you can trust. Call us today at 613-400-2737 to speak directly with a HVAC tech.