DIY Fall Furnace Startups
A DIY furnace startup is not a replacement for a trained professional. Professional startup services keep your HVAC equipment running in tip-top condition, save you money, and help forecast issues before they arise. You should consider scheduling a startup at least once a year, however as costs rise, it may be difficult for some to justify the added expense. A DIY furnace startup is a good option for homeowners that:
a. Have had a fall startup in the last 12-24 months.
b. Have not noticed a spike in electricity usage during the previous winter.
c. Have not noticed ANY of the issues outlined in our troubleshooting guide.
DIY furnace startups are not suitable for business owners or homeowners that don’t meet all of the above criteria. If a DIY startup is not suitable for you, stop and call a professional. If you are in the state of Texas, Williams A/C & Heating will absolutely come to you and do your furnace startup. Okay, now that the red tape is out of the way. Here is how you can extend the life of your furnace between professional services:
Before you start
Know your furnace. If your furnace is under warranty from a manufacturer or it is under a labor warranty from a service provider or the company that installed it, we do not recommend that you service that furnace yourself. Unlicensed work will void many warranties and you may not be covered if you inadvertently damage the unit.
Next, remember what they taught you in school “Safety First!” Do not skip these safety steps before attempting to service your furnace.
Turn off the power to furnace. Locate the power switch, which is usually on or near the furnace, and turn it off for safety. Be sure to give it 30 seconds for the charge to fully dissipate, and avoid the potential for electric shock. Additionally, give the furnace time to cool down if it was set to heat the space before you turned it off.
Close the gas valve. If you have a gas furnace, closing the gas value will help prevent accidental ignition and will help keep you safe from leaking gas.
Give it a good cleaning
Cleaning is essential to keeping your furnace running, with the amount of heat that your furnace or electric heat strips produce, dust and debris could easily catch fire. Build up of this dirt and debris could stop your unit from running altogether, so a thorough cleaning is essential before starting up your furnace.
Replace the air filter: A dirty, clogged filter makes the furnace work harder, so replace it with a clean one.
Locate and clean the burners: Use a wire brush or a stiff bristled nylon brush to gently clean any soot or carbon from the burners.
Clean the heat exchanger: Dust and debris can build up here, so use compressed air to blow them out.
Clean the ignitor/pilot light: Blow out any dust or dirt from the pilot light assembly or hot surface ignitor using compressed air.
Inspection & Safety Checks
Once the furnace is clean, you should perform some safety checks and visual inspection. If you see anything during this inspection that looks out of place, stop and call a professional immediately.
Clean the area around the furnace: Make sure there’s plenty of space for combustion air intake and that nothing is blocking the unit.
Check your home’s vents and registers: Remove any furniture, curtains, or rugs blocking them. Vacuum them to remove any dust and debris.
Test safety monitors: Ensure that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning correctly.
Ensure that you do not smell any leaking gas: if you have a gas powered furnace ensure that you don’t smell any gas. If there’s a leak, you’ll likely notice it around the pilot light.
Check the structural integrity: you should not see any visible cracks in the furnace casing or around the burners. Be sure to note any visible damage and call a professional.
Next Steps
Run a test cycle: After performing the checks, turn the power and gas back on and run the furnace for a few minutes. A burning smell is normal. It should smell like a campfire, a grill, or have a natural earthy smell. That is from the remaining dust burning off the heat exchanger and is expected. If you smell gas or burning plastic, hear strange noises or see visible smoke turn off your system immediately and give Williams A/C & Heating a call. There could be a serious problem with your furnace.
If there are no issues: you should be good to go for another season. Plan to have the unit serviced within the next 12 months to ensure that all parts are in working order. This guide is not enough to extend the life of your furnace long term and you risk critical failure, fire, and carbon monoxide poisoning if the unit is allowed to degrade over time.
That is a lot to cover, and if you’d rather a professional take care of it or it’s time for a service, consider a Fall Heater startup from Williams A/C & Heating. Our heater start up includes:
1. A full inspection of the electrical & gas components in your system.
2. A thorough cleaning of the furnace or heat strips. Clear down to the heat exchanger, burners, pilot or spark ignitors, and blower wheels.
3. A carbon monoxide & gas pressure tests to make sure your unit runs perfectly as well as safely.
Reach out to Williams A/C & Heating today and ask about our Planned Maintenance plans as well as our furnace start-up services.
