Does an electric furnace need maintenance?
Definitely! Any type of cooling or heating system should always have a maintenance routine by either the homeowner or a professional HVAC technician. In fact, any appliance in your home should have a maintenance routine. Having a professional Electric furnace maintenance just before winter is always recommended.
Electric furnaces are more common than gas because every home has electricity, not all homes have gas. There is also the safety concerns that many people still have today with gas furnaces and the possible hazards from combustible gases and toxic fumes. Fortunately, over the years, we’ve seen great improvements in that area with gas furnaces.
Durability and longevity are perhaps two of the biggest advantages of an electric furnace. With proper routine electric furnace maintenance, you can expect to get ten years lifespan with fewer services calls than a gas furnace. The recommended electric furnace maintenance will fend off the needs for emergency repair calls on a cold winter night.
Of course, it all depends on who you speak with in determining electric or gas furnace choices. Everyone has an opinion such as electric furnaces aren’t as energy-efficient than a gas models. However, like current technology has improved with gas furnaces it has with electric furnaces as well, and they can hold up in fair comparison today.
Why does an electric furnace need maintenance?
An electric furnace works through resistance heating, meaning its power comes from the heating element coils inside the furnace cabinet. When the electric furnace is on, it heats up the coils and elements and that heats up the air that blows through the ductwork.
What is electric furnace maintenance?
All of this puts stress on the coil and heating elements, and without professional electric furnace maintenance and routine care by the homeowner, they will need replacing, usually at the most inopportune time. During a professional electric furnace maintenance service call, the technician will perform the following:
- Inspect the heating elements
- Inspect the entire system, adjusting, cleaning, tightening as needed
- Inspect the air handler
- Inspect the motors, cleaning and lubricating as needed
- Inspect the capacitors, replace any that may be failing
At the end of the electric furnace maintenance checkup, the technician will advise the homeowner is any additional work is recommended that my need their approval for expense.
What is electric furnace maintenance?
An electric furnace maintenance routine is when the components inside the electric furnace are inspected, cleaned, tightened, repaired, or replaced. The technician will check the blower motor, making sure it is sending the heated air through the heating elements and on through the air duct and ventilation system.
Electric furnace maintenance checks of the blower fan and motor will make sure they aren’t damaged or near being worn down. Cleaning and lubricating these parts are an important part of the electric furnace maintenance routine.
How often should an electric furnace be serviced?
The electric furnace should have an annual cleaning by a professional included with the electric furnace maintenance. Is electric furnace maintenance necessary? If you want your electric furnace to keep working through the winter without downtime, yes. A professional electric furnace maintenance will include looking for indications of deterioration.
There are five indicators of an electric furnace deteriorating, that the technician will be checking:
- Electric furnace is over fifteen years old
- Your energy heating bills are skyrocketing
- You’re having constant repairs to your electric furnace
- The temperature is uneven throughout your house
- There is soot around the registers
- The electric furnace is loud and noisy
How often should you clean your furnace?
A complete electric furnace, duct cleaning, dryer vents and other components can cost between $200 to $400 on average, maybe more in some areas. So, it only makes sense that a homeowner on budget is going to question the validity of how often.
Experienced electric furnace cleaning technicians recommend no less than every 2 year and if there are pets in the house, once a year. Other signs that could be telling you to it is time for an electric furnace maintenance service would be:
- Wisps of dust blow out of air vents
- Dust or pet hair stuck in vent?
- Vent grill are covered in dust?
- You have to dust more frequent?
Or have you noticed any increase in the following:
- Excessive coughing
- Eyes and throat are irritated
- Respiratory illnesses
- Seasonal allergies off-season
How do I clean my electric furnace?
Having an electric furnace, you have to realize that it is going to get dirt and dusty. Fortunately, there aren’t many parts to be cleaned by the homeowner, and highest recommendation is to have it professionally cleaned and include and electric furnace maintenance agreement.
In between those professional appointments, here we provide you a few things to know How to do electric furnace maintenance do safely to clean your electric furnace.
- Vacuum out debris, dirt, dust inside of the furnace
- Vacuum around the blower wheel and compartment
- Use a stiff brush to remove stuck on dust in the blower wheel and vacuum off
- Do not touch any wires!
Just how long should an electric furnace last? With proper maintenance by the homeowner and professional electric furnace maintenance and inspections, you can expect a lifespan between twenty and thirty years. Need help with your furnace in Orange, CA? Call (714) 464-6622 today!