If you are in the market for a new home, checking out the furnace should be high on your to-do list. Why? Because a wonky furnace can turn your dream home into a money pit pretty fast.
Now, you might think furnaces just up and quit without warning. But here’s the scoop: they usually give you a heads-up.
They start slacking on the job, guzzling more energy, and racking up repair bills. Sure, all furnaces lose some pep over time but, you can keep that efficiency slide in check.
So, before you sign on the dotted line for your new house, give that furnace a proper once-over. Here are the things to look at.
Table of Contents
1. Clean the Gas Furnace Burner
The furnace cleaning Beaumont expert will switch off the furnace’s gas line at its source to make it safe to work on. At this point, relying on minimal flow can be problematic since incomplete gas consumption can introduce impurities into the indoor air.
The external valve is switched on to ensure safe venting, and the furnace burner mechanism can be cleaned. The build-up of burnt carbon within the burners can reduce efficiency as well as performance, and cleaning is the most effective approach for restoring a furnace to standard operation.
2. Check the Electrical Control Units
Next up, it’s time to play electrician. The experts will make sure all the electrical bits and bobs are behaving. We are talking voltage, current, thermostats – the works. Nobody wants a short circuit turning their new home into a light show.
3. Test the Ignition System
Most modern furnaces include an electric igniter mechanism that does not require a pilot light. The most popular form is the hot surface igniter, which generates heat at the end of the filament to ignite the natural gas, resulting in the required combustion. This is a safe method, but any part that comes into touch with flames will get dirty.
The tip of igniters can be coated with just a small amount of carbon and dirt to prevent ignition.
4. Heat Exchanger Health Check
The heat exchanger is like the heart of your furnace. It’s a tough cookie, but even tough cookies crumble eventually. As it ages, it can warp, crack, or corrode. A cracked heat exchanger is not your friend. It can leak carbon monoxide or even flames.
But here’s the tricky part – these cracks can play hide and seek. They might seal up when the furnace is taking a breather, making them harder to spot. That’s why you need a professional to check it out.
If you are considering to DIY the inspection, leave this one to the pros. They have the tools, the know-how, and the nose for sniffing out furnace funny business.
Wrapping Up
When house hunting, inspecting the furnace isn’t as fun as choosing paint colours or preparing a housewarming celebration. But it’s worth it. A healthy furnace means a comfortable home, lower energy bills, and fewer late-night repairs amid winter.
So the next time you are looking for a new home, take a moment to appreciate that hardworking furnace.