The fall to-do list usually includes tasks such as chimney sweeping, gutter cleaning and stacking away objects from the summer until the next season. Homeowners often forget to perform one of the most important tasks of them all: heating system maintenance. Homeowners can save themselves a lot of trouble by getting maintenance performed on their units before the time comes that they will rely on them the most. It just makes sense to add this activity to all the other pre-season tasks.

Heating systems tend to become faulty and unreliable without annual maintenance. Homeowners think that they can get by without maintaining them, but they often end up with expensive repairs and no heat to warm them when they need heat the most. The sad part is that such homeowners could have prevented the situations by simply having an HVAC company like ours come out and spend a brief amount of time working on their units. The middle of the winter is not a time when you want to get caught with a non-functional heating system. The following is some information on three ways that you can keep your system running with just the right level of efficiency.

Have Your Air Filters Changed

Air filters in heating systems need to be changed just as much as the air filters in AC units need to be changed. When owners neglect to change the air filters, the units often end up getting clogged, and that clog ruins the unit’s efficiency. You can beat that issue and have a more manageable electricity bill if you remember to service the air filter.

When you chose an air filter, you should choose one that is high in quality. Don’t attempt to save money by buying a cheap air filter because it might only complicate your situation. A good air filter will make your system function with the highest level of efficiency. In the following article by United Filter, they offer some advice on how often you should be changing your air filters:

Your furnace filter should be checked monthly. Typically, most manufacturers recommend changing the filter every 3-6 months. Time between replacement is dependent on many factors. This can include the quality of the filter, time of year, presence of pets, allergy considerations, operation cycle of hvac equipment. Often, simply looking at the filter can indicate whether it needs to be changed. 

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The filter will have a MERV number that ranges from 1 to 12. Be sure to pick one that has a high number because the high number describes its quality.

You can take a quick inventory of your household to determine whether you need to change your air filter. You will most likely need to buy a new one if you have pets or dust in your environment. Those factors can cause you to need a new filter faster than some other people may need one.

 

Fill Up Your Tank Oil

Another element of keeping your system up to par is having someone check your heating oil. The oil tank is crucial to your system, and you should thus ensure that someone inspects your tank. Add an anti-aging element to your tank if your tank is outside. That element will ensure that you get help when you know the temperatures will drop to extremely low temperatures.

It is important that you perform regular heating oil tank inspections so that you can keep the unit in the best possible condition. Make sure that the tank does not have rust or oil leaks. Condensation can start to form on your tank if it is not full. Bacteria can grow when condensation forms on your tank. Alternatively, sediments can get in there and wreak havoc on your system. The burner nozzle and fuel lines can get clogged as a result. As you know, the clog will cause a lot of problems. Heating Oil Express discusses how crucial it is for you to keep your tank full at all times:

Water can be even more dangerous. Most of the water in the tank comes from condensation, which is a result of difference in temperatures inside and outside the tank. As water is also heavier than oil, it will collect on the tank’s bottom. Water deposits represent a good place for growing various bacteria, and these bacteria release acid which may lead to tank corrosion. And corrosion means oil leaks.
Don’t let the oil in your tank run out! When that happens all the sludge from the bottom of your tank would end up clogging your filters and you’ll most likely need a burner service to change the oil filters and clean up your furnace.

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An oil leak can cause problems from which you may have difficulty bouncing back. First, an oil leak can cause a slippery mess that is hard to clean. Secondly, an oil leak may reduce the value of your home if you try to sell it. Thirdly, an oil leak can cause your unit to stop functioning right. You can prevent that from happening by having someone come out and maintain it.

You don’t ever want to run out of oil in the wintertime. If it happens to you once, you will try to make sure it does not happen again. Keeping the tank full by making sure that you schedule fuel oil deliveries keeps you safe from having to experience a cold winter without it.

Lastly, you want to prevent sediment from getting into the tank. You can do this by making sure that you check the levels frequently. Getting sediment in the system causes it to malfunction severely, and that is not what you want.

Keeping Your Furnace In Check

You must have some maintenance conducted on your furnace each fall to ensure that it always operates at its absolute best. Service Master discusses some of the things that can happen if you fail to keep up with furnace maintenance. The results are not pretty, and you need to know the mounds of trouble that you may have to endure if you do not maintain your device. In the following article by Heating Oil Express, they discuss some problems that arise when you neglect furnace maintenance:

8 Things That Could Happen Without Regular Furnace Maintenance

• Higher energy bills due to an overlooked furnace.
• Cracks in the Combustion Chamber.
• Possibly Void Manufacturer’s Warranty for Neglect of Furnace.
• Shortened Lifespan of Furnace
• Improper Ventilation
• Malfunctioning Safety Devices
• Could start a house fire.
• Possible Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Incomplete Combustion
• Puts the Health and Safety of Everyone in the Home at Risk

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If you want to have a warm and cozy winter, you will have to perform the necessary maintenance on your heating system. Save yourself money, time and stress by addressing small problems before they get out of hand.

Small problems can become big nightmares if you do not find a resolution for them. Save yourself the trouble by contacting us today. We are a highly professional provider of all manner of HVAC repair, maintenance, and heating oil deliveries.

 

This article outlines what homeowners need to know to maintain their heating systems. Your air filters need to be changed when they are dirty. Also, your furnace needs to be tuned up annually in order for it to function properly. Be sure to schedule your heating oil deliveries so that you can prevent condensation from forming in your tank. For affordable and top-notch heating oil in your area, contact Charity Oil.  By ordering from us, you will get exceptional service while contributing to your community. Charity Oil donates five cents for every gallon of fuel you buy. These donations go to one of five fantastic charities that really make a difference.