AC Maintenance Tips to Prevent Furnace Failures

Essential AC Maintenance Tips to Prevent Furnace Failures & Emergency Service Calls

All winter long, our priority will be on responding to emergency service calls, since:

• Often, sudden furnace failures happen during extremely cold snaps.
• Furnace failures leave families and occupants in dangerously cold homes, often for lengthy periods.
• The potential for water damage from frozen pipes increases with every hour without heat during extremely cold temperatures.

For these reasons and more, we give priority to emergency calls. As a homeowner, here are a few AC Maintenance steps to take to avoid furnace emergency calls and respond appropriately during furnace emergencies.

Be Proactive in Your AC Maintenance

If something seems wrong with your furnace, don’t hesitate to call for help before an emergency happens. We get comfortable enough with the performance of our HVAC. But, when:

• The furnace is making unusual noises—buzzing, screeching, or clicking—be proactive
• The furnace produces unusual smells—burning plastic or musty odors—be proactive
• You notice that the flame on the burner assembly is yellow—it should be blue—be proactive
• The furnace leaves some spaces in the home uncomfortably cold—be proactive

Be proactive and call an AC Maintenance technician before the problem becomes a failure.

While You Wait

If your furnace does fail, call us at any time; we will respond ASAP. Here are a few suggested steps to take while you wait.

• Check the circuit breaker for the furnace. An electrical issue might have tripped the breaker and resetting it might restore heat.
• Check the batteries in your thermostat. It is the ON/OFF switch, and the furnace might come on when the batteries are replaced.
• Check the air filter. A clogged filter will restrict airflow and prevent the movement of the heat generated by the furnace. A safety feature will turn the furnace off as a safety feature. Changing the air filter may restore heat.
• Check the gas supply for natural gas furnaces. Something or someone might have bumped the gas valve. Restoring gas to the furnace might restore heat.

Even if one of these steps works, have the furnace checked by an AC Maintenance professional.

Take Precautions

During the span between your call and the restoration of heat, be careful to:

• Use a fireplace if available. It is unlikely to heat the whole house, but it will give a respite from the cold.
• Do not use propane heaters indoors.
• Do not leave electric space heaters unattended.
• Dress warm and use blankets when needed.
• Find an alternative bathing site—family, friends, neighbors.
• Turn the faucets on—just a quick drip is enough to keep the water in pipes from freezing.

Rely on Your Preventative AC Maintenance – AirPro Houston

The key to avoiding a furnace failure is annual maintenance of the system. A technician will examine the electrical, gas, and heat pump components, looking for weaknesses and preemptively repairing problem parts. Certainly, a failure can happen even with regular maintenance, but the probability of failure is reduced greatly.

With our four decades of experience as an AC Maintenance contractor, AirPro Houston provides you with the skill and expertise to assist with your HVAC repair and AC Maintenance questions.

We have several financing options available with great options. Up to 72-month terms with approved credit. Call us today at  281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your AC Maintenance needs.