The summer is over, the kids are back in school (even if it’s virtual), and the temperatures are dropping like the leaves on the trees of Camden County. Have you had to turn your thermostat to “heat” mode yet? For many homeowners throughout Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Cinnaminson, Gloucester, Medford, and the greater Sicklerville area, turning on the furnace for the first time can come with some surprises, like a furnace that is blowing cold air!
Here are the top reasons your furnace may not be providing the hot air you need to keep your home comfortable, and how the home heating and cooling experts at Bovio Rubino Service can help you stay warm while keeping your heating costs low.
Your Furnace Is in Need of Maintenance
As we will get into later, the furnace in your home operates similarly to your own body, or like a vehicle: sometimes you’ve got to take a look under the hood and perform some routine maintenance. There are often multiple small furnace problems that can add up to comfort issues and a higher-than-expected heating bill.
At Bovio Rubino Service, our furnace maintenance checklist includes:
- Carbon monoxide test
- Thermostat test
- Visual furnace safety inspection
- Ignition system test
- Exhaust system test
- Measure supply/return temperature differential
- Safety & control circuit test
- Clean existing air filter
- Lubricate and clean blower motor air vents
- Clean and inspect furnace burner
- Visual inspection of heat exchangers
- Humidifier inspection
- Gas pressure diagnostics
- Lubricate all moving parts
- Blower motor test
- Inspect and tighten all electrical systems
- Natural Gas – check for leaks
- Inspect ductwork for leakage or condensation
- Drain pump inspection
- Drain line inspection
Staying on top of your furnace maintenance will provide many home heating benefits for your home each year, including:
- Longer system life expectancy
- Reduced heating costs
- Consistent home heat, all winter long
- Fewer emergency heating repairs
Want to ensure you stay on top of your heating and cooling maintenance tasks throughout the year? Become a Bovio Comfort Shield member!
Problems with Your Ductwork
If you think of your home like the human body, the furnace is the beating heart of winter comfort, and your ductwork is like the circulatory system. If the ductwork of your central home heating system is leaky, under-insulated, or poorly designed for efficiency, it could be preventing the hot air created by your furnace from reaching your living space.
Poor ductwork can actually account for 20–30% of the energy lost in your HVAC system, so solving this issue can go a long way toward keeping you comfortable and reducing your heating bills. And while we’re talking about ducts, make sure you have your ducts cleaned every now and again to avoid excess dust, contaminated air, and increased mold growth and pest infestations!
Your Furnace Is Improperly Sized for Your Home
The closer your furnace is to being perfectly sized for the heating load of your home’s design and square footage, the more efficient your furnace will be. Think of it like Goldilocks and her search for the perfect bowl of porridge: Not too hot, not too cold, just right.
If you are not able to feel the hot air coming from your air vents after you have turned your furnace on, it could be that your furnace is just too small for the size and design of your home. Properly sizing a furnace for your home requires what is called a Manual J Load Calculation, which is all part of the Bovio furnace installation process.
“It’s Dead, Jim…”: Time For Furnace Replacement
Speaking of furnace installation, sometimes the lack of heat coming through your air vents is because your furnace has suffered significant damage or deterioration over the summer. Often times, similar to when a vehicle is “totaled”, the cost of repairing a furnace will end up being more costly than installing a newer, more efficient furnace. These common furnace issues can include:
- Damaged blower fan or motor
- Excessive gas leaks
- Broken heat exchanger
…among others. Furnace replacement never seems to happen at an opportune time, but rest easy that the Bovio team will help you develop a plan for your furnace replacement that puts your home comfort and financial well-being at the forefront. We can even help you to qualify for any of the New Jersey Clean Energy Rebates available to homeowners looking to increase the overall efficiency of their home!
Does your failing furnace have your home frigid, but your mind frustrated? Bovio can help! Schedule your heating service with Bovio today, get in touch here.
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