3 Steps to Taking Better Care of Your Heater
Your heating system plays a vital role in keeping you and your family warm and comfortable in winter and the colder months of the year, and it’s something that you don’t want to fail you when you need it most. While an immensely important household system, many Australians don’t take adequate care of their hydronic and gas ducted heating systems and pay far more than they should in long-term maintenance, repairs and replacement costs.
A quality heating system, whether hydronic with the heat conveyed via hot water through a network of pipes or a gas-powered ducted heating system that distributes hot air via vents, should last you many years and is a major factor in the comfort you enjoy at home. It’s also an important financial investment and should be seen as such, which makes scheduled ducted heating servicing (with repairs if required) essential to keep the heating system at your Melbourne home in top shape. Along with professional maintenance and repairs, you’ll need to keep an eye on your system and manage a few basic maintenance tasks, such as:
- 1. Check The Thermostat
Before winter arrives, be sure to check the thermostat to make sure it’s working correctly. In addition to checking that the furnace turns on, you’ll also need to make sure that it isn’t short cycling. To do this, simply turn it on and wait 3-4 minutes and watch the colour and shape of the flames. If the furnace doesn’t turn off and the flames are tight and solid blue it’s fine, but if it turns off or the flames are yellow and flicker, you should call a professional.
Gas ducted heating service and repairs (as well as hydronic heating servicing and repairs) should always be managed by a licensed Melbourne plumber.
- 2. Clean It Before Winter
To keep your hydronic or gas ducted heating system in top condition and functioning properly all winter long, you’ll need to keep it clean throughout the entire year. This is especially important with ducted heating systems, as they distribute heated air throughout your home and can become unhygienic if the vents and ducts aren’t regularly cleaned.
Be sure to clean the combustion chamber in both gas ducted and hydronic heating systems to remove any soot and lubricate the circulation pump with a 3-in-1 lubricant product (check the owner’s manual) when needed. Also, keep the vents in ducted systems closed when the system isn’t in use, but open them up periodically to allow some air in, and don’t forget that a system flush is required every five years with hydronic home heating systems. As with all major maintenance work, system flushes should be managed by a professional.
- 3. Turn It On
As with any household appliance or system, your ducted or hydronic home heating system needs to be used regularly to keep it safe and functioning properly, and it shouldn’t be allowed to stay switched off throughout the entire summer and spring. You don’t need to turn it on every month but remembering to switch it on for five minutes every quarter will ensure it’s ready to work hard for you in winter and keep you warm and cosy inside.
Need a hydronic or gas ducted heating service in Melbourne to keep your heating system in the best possible condition? Contact Efficient Pure Plumbing on 03 9498 1063.
