Pittsburgh Furnace Maintenance: Here Are 5 Furnace Maintenance Tips That Homeowners Should Consider

Although Pittsburgh is known for its moderate and temperate continental local climate with warm, humid summers and frigid cold, cloudy and snowy winters, it’s obvious that residents will be pelted with the occasional snowstorm or blizzard in the thick of the cold season. Once January descends, temperatures can dip down to 19.9° F on an average winter’s day, and as much as we all love winter wonderland activities like downhill skiing, sledding, or ice skating, we all need to brace ourselves for the winter season by scheduling a Pittsburgh maintenance service. Homeowners who are extra vigilant about winterizing their humble abodes will most likely participate in preventative maintenance by ensuring their furnace system is in tip-top condition.

Lately, if you’ve noticed that different areas of your home have hot and cold spots, it may be because you don’t do enough proper upkeep through furnace maintenance. Pittsburgh residents should note that apart from rudely interrupting their daily routines and comfort, inadequate heating results in poor air quality. If you haven't signed up for annual inspections from a professional Pittsburgh HVAC professional, let alone do the chore of regularly cleaning your furnace unit, you quickly find your furnace falling into disrepair or completely going kaput.

Some red flags indicating you haven’t been responsible for your Pittsburgh furnace maintenance include dirty air ducts full of debris, strange noises, foul odors, a balmy atmosphere from high humidity levels or a dry atmosphere due to low humidity levels, and soaring utility bills. And, of course, the worst-case scenario is no heat whatsoever in your home. But if there’s a will, there’s a way for Pittsburgh furnace maintenance! It is just a matter of effort and motivation to educate yourself or be advised by a professional Pittsburgh HVAC technician from Aire Serv of Sewickley on how to best preserve your home’s furnace system for years to come.

What Is A Home Furnace System, And Why Is It Important?

A home’s furnace system is responsible for heating air and distributing it evenly through your house via air ducts. Although a furnace is just one of a few heating systems, it’s the most common one used in most American homes as most use it to provide heating using a variety of fuels, such as oil, electricity, propane, or natural gas, to forge heat and utilizing forced air to distribute warmth through the home. Nowadays, plentiful heating isn’t exactly a luxury given the latest energy-efficient furnace models and constantly changing weather conditions Pittsburgh residents have to adapt to. Those who are determined to practice proper upkeep and furnace maintenance in Pittsburgh, including regular cleanings, will find slim to none they need a furnace repair or replacement. Property owners should note that on average a natural gas unit can last upwards of 20 years, and an electric one is topped off at nearly 30 with routine maintenance, annual inspections, and minor repairs. The truth is, your furnace is not unbreakable and will eventually showcase signs of deterioration as time goes on, indicated by faulty furnace components becoming glitchy from the blower motor fan to the thermostat or pilot light.

It’s best not to delay and wait until you are hibernating in colder weather to check if your unit is working properly, but rely on our professional HVAC service technician for Pittsburgh furnace maintenance tune-up or repair service. You will get the peace of mind that even during harsh and windy days, you get to remain snug in a toasty home.

Why Is A Broken Furnace Problematic?

If your HVAC happens to fail during a Pittsburgh furnace maintenance service, don’t be surprised that you’ll eventually need repairs or a furnace replacement. Sometimes, getting a furnace repair over a brand-new furnace installation is more budget-friendly. It will save you money on your monthly utility bills in terms of cutting down your gas and electricity use, especially if you ask for an energy-efficient model. Alongside this, you will benefit from preserving the structural integrity of your home with efficient Pittsburgh furnace maintenance. If you remain indifferent to upgrading your home’s heating and cooling system, you’ll soon find a domino effect of more problems. For instance, too much humidity can result in condensation on window sills resulting in foggy windows, mold and mildew growth on grout on tile surfaces. Or damp patches on your ceiling and/or drywall boards from moisture damage and a pesky insect infestation. Next, your home’s wooden structures, from your stair railing to cabinets and hardwood, can also be susceptible to rotting and peeling away. Plus, too much humidity can result in detrimental health effects, including respiratory problems, allergies, and bad sleep. Not only will your home no longer be livable if you choose to forgo Pittsburgh furnace maintenance, but Pittsburgh residents are also sacrificing their health and safety. Regardless of the type of unit you need inspecting or repairing during a Pittsburgh furnace maintenance service, you can rely on our experienced HVAC team members for quality workmanship and ultimate customer satisfaction.

Here Are the Top 5 Tips for Proper Furnace Maintenance in Pittsburgh

1. Change Your Furnace Filter

It is mandatory to change your furnace filter at the very least once every three months to get rid of the accumulated debris and dust particles. If not, you risk suffocating your furnace as it’s readily clogged and begins to overheat every time it starts up again, also known as short cycling. As a result, your furnace unit’s air filters will harden to churn out the same amount of output of air, causing a decrease in airflow and proper air circulation. Because your furnace is working against the grain, it will weaken and deteriorate faster and need more furnace repairs. Surprisingly, swapping out your furnace filter is a must that every responsible Pittsburgh homeowner should do by default, and it’s easy to do as most home hardware stores carry different-sized filters based on longevity. For example, 1 to 2-inch filters need to be replaced every 3 months, whilst 5- to 6-inch filters should be swapped out at least every 9 to 12 months. We recommend keeping an eye on your filters during peak use.

2. Change Your Thermostat Batteries

The rookie mistake all homeowners make is that they assume their thermostat is busted when in fact it’s only died due to lack of power. Ideally, you should replace the batteries at the start of each season to readily avoid malfunctions and ensure you have enough heating and cooling year-round. Plus, if you're going away on vacation, it’s a good idea to replace them to prevent any issues while you are gone.

3. Program Your Thermostat For Cold Winter Weather

We usually don’t recommend randomly toggling your thermostat’s setting and leaving it on the standard mode unless you know what you’re exactly doing. Although for cold winter months, you do need to kick it up a notch, and we suggest setting the room temperature to 68 °F while your home is occupied by yourself and your family members or guests and slightly less so while you're away for work, school, or asleep overnight.

4. Perform Pittsburgh Furnace Maintenance Safety Check

As mentioned above, we do recommend that you sign up for at least an annual HVAC routine inspection alongside a professional Pittsburgh furnace maintenance service. A typical furnace tune-up works wonders for your furnace by preserving its longevity and reducing the chances of malfunction. During the inspection, your expert Pittsburgh HVAC technician will assess, clean, adjust, lubricate and test all the essential components (from electrical connections to the heat exchanger) regardless of if you own a natural gas furnace or an electric furnace. They will provide you with an official list of recommendations for future repairs or fixes too.

5. Inspect Furnace Ductwork

Please note that furnace cleaning is not the same type of service as ductwork cleaning, which is often confused with each other. Furnace cleaning focuses on the device itself, while cleaning of the ductwork is associated with the vents attached to the furnace. Air duct cleaning is whereby dust, debris, and continents are readily removed from your air ducts. You will notice warning signs indicating your air ducts are full of filth, such as mold growth, pest infestation, and dust particles on surfaces. Upon inspection of your ductwork for any leakages or other damage, it’s always best to follow up with additional Pittsburgh furnace maintenance every couple of years and a duct cleaning service at least every three years to ensure your home’s heating system is operating smoothly and providing good indoor air quality.

Aire Serv of Sewickley Will Warm Up Your Humble Abode–Call Us Today for Pittsburgh Furnace Maintenance!

If you hope to have your home’s air quality light, fresh, and clean, then you must remain vigilant about Pittsburgh furnace maintenance. Our trustworthy HVAC service professionals are certified, licensed, and fully insured and always advocate for quality workmanship and ultimate customer satisfaction. Aire Serv of Sewickley has an impressive track record of prodigy topnotch heating, ventilation, and conditioning service, serving not only Sewickley but nearby service areas of Wexford, Moon Township, and Ambridge.

Reach out to one of our courteous customer service representatives to schedule a service appointment or learn more about our HVAC repairs, installations, and regular maintenance services.