The heating system is one of the most important appliances in any household. It comes in handy every morning and evening when one is taking a shower. It is also really helpful in keeping the house warm, especially during those cold winter days below zero degrees. Keeping the heating system in tip-top shape is critical for every household, and it can be achieved through regular maintenance as well as repairing as soon as any problems emerge. Follow efficient heating systems & tips to understand why regular maintenance is necessary.
Improves Efficiency
Heating systems typically wear and tear over time, causing them to deteriorate. As the moving parts continue to wear, they force the system to work even harder to achieve a similar output. As a result of this, a lot of energy is used. By doing regular maintenance, one is able to replace these worn out parts with newer ones. The system will, therefore, not need to work harder to achieve the same output. Less energy is therefore used, meaning your system is as efficient as ever.
Reduce Emergency Repairs
When a heating system is regularly maintained, there’s a higher chance of noticing small problems before they manifest into something big that will cost more to repair. For example, during scheduled maintenance, the maintenance guy might come across a part that is nearly breaking. They will then fix that part before it completely breaks and causes a bigger problem than it already is.
Increases Durability
Through regular maintenance checks, one is able to fix any underlying problems that may affect the quality of the system. Experts suggest that regular and frequent tune-ups of any heating system can increase its expected lifespan by over forty percent. This eliminates the need for buying a new heating system too soon, which is very cost-effective as a new heating system can be very expensive.
Validation of Warranty
Most manufacturers require routine maintenance of a heating system for the warranty to remain valid. For example, if the warranty lasts up to five years, the manufacturers will insist that the system receives maintenance checks at least once every year, or else the warranty will be voided.
As much as regular maintenance may come at a cost, it definitely is worth it in the long run. It is a small price to pay in order to avoid having to replace major parts and, in some cases, the whole heating system.
Other than regular maintenance, it is also very critical to know when to repair a broken heating system. Waiting too long could be very costly because as the system continues to function, the extent of damage increases, and soon, the whole heating system will go down, and nothing will be able to save it. To avoid such scenarios where you’re required to buy a new heating system, pay attention to certain signs your heating system will give off when in need of a repair. Here are some of those signs.
Uneven Heating Around the House
Whenever the temperature in the house is not even, with some rooms being too cold, others too hot, and others perfectly warm, you should be concerned. Uneven temperatures could mean different things, for example, improper insulation, ductwork problems, or a host of other things. At this point, the best thing to do is to seek heating repair services as soon as possible before the problem gets out of hand.
Freakishly High Power Bills
Every household has that particular range that the end month power bill falls at. Whenever it goes higher or lower than this range, then something is usually different. For example, the family had gone on vacation, or there were guests in the house for the better part of the month. Whenever you notice that the power bill is freakishly high and there’s no sensible reason to explain it, then maybe the heating system has been working overtime.
How it works is that if there is a broken part or a part that isn’t working effectively, other parts have to cover for this deficit in performance to maintain the same level of functionality. In a bid to cover the deficit, these parts work even harder, meaning they consume more energy. Therefore, whenever you notice the electricity bill is higher than normal, contact an expert to carefully examine the system and find out what the problem is.
Strange Noises Coming From The Heating System
Every machine has a particular sound it produces while running, and a heating unit isn’t any different. However, when broken in some areas or not properly functioning, they can start to produce weird sounds such as rattling, squealing, creaking, and even banging. These noises are a cry for help, and you should make sure you respond.
A squealing noise is an indication that the system’s motor bearings have a problem and need to be checked, while rattling suggests that the motor itself or the blower assembly needs some checking. Sometimes these problems aren’t too serious and may call for a simple repair, while other times, it could be something major.
The Age of The System
Unlike fine wine, every heating system gets worse with age. There’s only so much that regular maintenance can cover, and sometimes it reaches a point that the unit is simply old. The average life expectancy of a heating unit ranges between 15 and 25 years depending on the brand and a host of other factors. It is therefore worth noting that all the signs mentioned above could be an indication that the system is old and requires a complete replacement rather than a mere fix.
Another thing worth remembering is that every maintenance check and repair job should be done by a certified professional. If possible, get a technician that works for the manufacturer from whom the system was bought. This is because they are experienced and best placed to know what the problem could be, having serviced hundreds of other heating systems of a similar type.
By quickly responding to these signs and also doing regular maintenance checks, the heating system is set to work efficiently and serve for a long time.