3 Easy Ways To Take Care Of Your Heater

It is very important to keep your heater in top shape, especially when you are preparing to face a very cold season. There is nothing worse than walking into a chilly house after commuting in cold weather. Always keep your eyes and ears open for signs of a problem with your heater and alert an HVAC service right away to fix any problems. You can also prevent your heater from becoming rundown by performing routine maintenance to keep it in good shape. These tasks are very easy to carry out and are also budget friendly.Here are three easy ways to get take of your heating unit.

Keep dust away from the pilot light.

The pilot light is an indicator of how well your heater is functioning. Your pilot light should be a small, steady tongue of flame that is blue with a yellow halo. A flickering pilot light that is a sickly yellow color is a sign that the chemical mixture is no longer balanced or that the pilot light is being clogged by dirt. You can keep dust away from your pilot light by blowing it out of the way of the flame with a plastic drinking straw. Do not blow air directly at the pilot light, as you could extinguish it. 

Change the air filter every few weeks.

You should change the air filter every few weeks, especially when you are running your heater heavily. The air filter is responsible for keeping pollen, dust, and other grime out of your ducts and vents. Make sure that you replace disposable air filters with new ones that are the right size and a similar brand. A reusable air filter needs to be washed. You can do this in the sink with warm soapy water, or in the dishwasher as long as the heating cycle is turned off. The filters should be laid flat on a cool surface to dry.

Have your heater serviced once a year.

One of the most important things to do for your heater is have it serviced by an HVAC professional once a year. This allows you to catch any existing problems early on before they become damaging to the unit and expensive to fix. This appointment should take place in either the spring or autumn when the temperatures are more moderate, because you are not as likely to run your heater during months with moderate weather. 

To learn more, contact a company like Comfy Cave Heating and Air.