Furnace tune-ups and safety checks in San Mateo County
Ready for the first cold night?
A furnace tune-up and safety inspection is a yearly check of the burners, ignition, heat exchanger, venting and blower, done in the fall so the furnace gets through another winter without a breakdown or a safety problem.
What a furnace tune-up and safety inspection covers
The tune-up keeps the furnace running well. The safety inspection makes sure it is safe to run. We do both in the same visit.
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Safety inspection
We look at the heat exchanger for cracks and corrosion, check the vent for blockage or leaks, and test for gas leaks at the connections. A furnace that fails any of these should not run.
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Burners, ignition and flame
We clean the flame sensor, check the ignitor and look at the flame itself. A weak or yellow flame is an early sign of trouble.
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Blower and airflow
The blower motor, wheel and capacitor are checked and cleaned, and the filter is inspected, because airflow is what keeps a furnace from overheating.
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A full cycle and a report
The furnace runs through a heating cycle with the temperature rise and controls checked. We tell you what we found and what, if anything, should be done soon.
How often should a gas furnace be inspected?
Every year, in the fall before you need the heat. Gas furnaces make their own carbon monoxide risk if a heat exchanger cracks or a vent is blocked, and a yearly look is a simple way to guard against it.
A furnace that is older, runs a lot or has had repairs before is worth the same check, not a skipped one. Carbon monoxide alarms in the house are a good second line of defence, and they are worth testing when you change the clocks.
What can a safety inspection find?
- A cracked or corroded heat exchanger, the fault that can let combustion gases into the house.
- A blocked, disconnected or leaking vent.
- A gas leak at a connection or valve.
- A dirty flame sensor or worn ignitor that is about to leave you without heat.
- A worn blower motor or a weak capacitor, caught before the first cold morning.
Each of these is dealt with on a calm autumn afternoon, not on the coldest night of the year.
How do I get my furnace through another winter?
Have it inspected in the fall, change the filter before the first cold snap and keep the vents and registers clear of furniture and rugs. Run the heat for a short while on a mild day, so that any smell or noise shows up while you are home and not away.
Keep the area around the furnace clear of boxes and anything that can burn. If it starts making new noises, cycling on and off or smelling like more than dust that first day, call us and don't wait for it to fail.
Book your furnace check
Call and tell us about your furnace, or book a visit online.
Should I service the furnace and the AC together?
They share the ducts, the blower and the thermostat, so it helps to treat them as a pair: the AC in spring, the furnace in fall. If you have a heat pump instead, it does both jobs and wants a check each year.
Tell us what it's doing. We'll take it from there.
Call and describe the problem: the noise, the smell, the room that never warms up. Or book a visit online.
