When should I have my oil furnace serviced?
In Quebec, every home must be equipped with a good heating system to get through the long winters. To ensure that your system keeps its promises and keeps you nice and warm at all times, it requires proper maintenance. Regular maintenance will not only enable you to avoid the risks of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning but will also help you reduce your heating costs, as your system will perform optimally and burn more efficiently.
Furthermore, to ensure the safety of your family, your home and the environment, you should make oil furnace maintenance one of your top priorities.
When should I have my oil furnace serviced?
Whether your heating system uses natural gas, propane or fuel oil, you should ideally have it serviced before the beginning of the cold weather season. Experts recommend checking fuel oil furnaces every year and gas furnaces, every two years. If the equipment includes a humidifier, this should also be thoroughly cleaned on a yearly basis.
Preventive maintenance tips for different types of heating systems
Natural gas or propane furnaces
Most gas suppliers offer annual maintenance service, which includes an inspection, thorough cleaning and, if necessary, adjustment of the heating equipment. Adjustments are especially crucial in the case of newer medium-efficiency and high-efficiency models. In fact, the electronic safety mechanisms and the controls absolutely must be checked regularly.
Fuel oil furnaces
Since the useful life of your fuel oil heating system depends largely on its maintenance and use, it’s recommended that you have it checked each year. A professional cleaning, maintenance and burner tune-up program is a sure-fire way to achieve optimum performance.
Proper heating system maintenance also means replacing the tank in a timely manner. To prevent leaks, spills and other damage that could end up being a real nightmare, it’s suggested that you replace your oil tank every 25 years if it’s inside and every 10 years if it’s outside.
Oil furnace maintenance: Cleaning the filter
If you want to start the year off right, include cleaning the filters on your furnace among your New Year’s resolutions! Since these filters are designed to trap the dust circulating in the air, it’s crucially important for them to be clean in order to ensure that the ambient air is safe to breathe. Therefore, you should check the filters on your furnace every month, cleaning and replacing them, when necessary, throughout the season you use your heating system. You should also have your air exchangers inspected and cleaned, as needed. As for your ventilation system, including heat recovery ventilators, it’s recommended to have your equipment checked every two months.
Finally, it’s essential to clean your furnace’s air filter regularly and replace it when necessary. This is crucial for maintaining the heating system mechanism in proper working order and ensuring optimum performance. Not to mention that a dirty filter will significantly increase your electricity bills!
Entrust your oil furnace maintenance to experts
Don’t take any chances this winter! You can count on the reliable service provided by Propane Bélanger, heating specialists for more than 60 years!