Very often, if a homeowner spends some time and prepares his or her heater for winter, it can play an important role in how well the unit performs and if it needs repair work during the upcoming season. Many homeowners may think that the only way to prepare the unit is by calling a professional to do this type of work. While a professional from a heating repair in Fort Collins can be an excellent choice, a homeowner can also handle much of the repair tasks that are needed on their own.
Most heating systems are made up of a few basic components, such as the thermostat, burner and blower. Each of these units plays an important role in the operation of the complete system. Because of this, all three of these units should be inspected by a homeowner before the winter seasons begins.
The thermostat is the device that determines when the unit will come on and go off. The setting on this device should be checked by using a normal glass thermometer attached to a wall near the thermostat. The reading of the home’s temperature should be the same. If they are not, the thermostat may need to be re-calibrated. A professional will often need to be called for this task.
It is a good idea for the homeowner to turn the thermostat up so that the heat is triggered on. Once this happens they will want to examine the flames of the burner as they light up. These flames should be blue and steady. If they are not, the burner may be dirty or have other issues, which may require further heating repair work. This should be completed prior to the unit’s use, so a repair person should be contacted as soon as possible.
One of the most important steps is cleaning the blower unit on the system. This unit attracts a great deal of dirt and other matter, which can cause the system to work much harder to produce heat. This can not only shorten the life of the unit, but it can also cause energy costs to be much higher as well. Cleaning the unit can be done by using a shop or home vacuum cleaner with a long nozzle attachment. A stiff brush can be used to clean dirt from vents and other areas. The air filter should also be checked and replaced if needed.
