Benefits of Getting Regular Heating Maintenance

If you’ve already taken care of getting your annual heating maintenance done on your oil furnace or oil boiler, good for you!

HVAC systems can have longer lifespans if the equipment has been properly installed and maintained. Proper maintenance may enable you to put off replacing your system for a few years; but do keep in mind that no amount of maintenance will make your equipment more efficient than it was when you first bought it.

Your HVAC service provider conducts a thorough inspection of your entire heating system. During this inspection, problems can be identified and fixed before they become expensive repairs. If your HVAC service provider finds a major issue that warrants a replacement system, you do have some good options that will save you money. Read more about that here.

Heating repair warning signs

If you haven’t scheduled your heating service yet, you should do it as soon as possible. You don’t want to be faced with heating repairs in the middle of winter.

If you notice anything out of the ordinary with your heating system – like one of these telltale signs for a heating repair– contact your HVAC service provider as soon as possible.

• Unusual noises – Most modern heating equipment runs pretty quietly. If you hear banging, clanking, or other unusual sounds, something is probably about to go wrong – if it hasn’t already.
• Odors – If your system is working properly, you should never smell fuel oil. An oil smell could be caused by a leak, burner troubles, a heat exchanger failure or exhaust system problems. You should schedule service as soon as possible to correct this situation. If you detect smoky odors when your oil burner is operating, it might be the result of a fireplace or exhaust fan running at the same time as your oil burner. A smoky odor occurs because a backdraft is pulling flue gases through the exhaust system and into the home.
• Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) – Have you noticed that a layer of dust forms not long after a thorough house cleaning – or that your allergy symptoms get worse when you spend more time at home? A furnace that isn’t working properly could be circulating dust, mildew, and other contaminants throughout your home. If you change your air filter and the problem doesn’t go away, you’ll need to call in a heating professional to diagnose the problem.

If you have an old system that is not as reliable as it was before and you’re tired of spending hundreds of dollars on repairs, you should start researching your options in new oil furnaces or oil boilers.

This is especially important if the age of your heating system is 25 years old or older. That’s because just like any other piece of equipment around the home, systems will eventually deteriorate and require replacement. Read more here.