It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your home heating system. In fact, now is an ideal time to take a step back and pay attention to your furnace or boiler. Then, when the cold weather hits, your system will be ready to run efficiently, smoothly and without a hitch.
Here are our recommendations for how to care for your heating system now so you can take full advantage of it later.
Don’t wait until there’s a problem to schedule a tune-up. Instead, set one up during the summer, when it’s easy to get an appointment and you aren’t competing with no-heat situations to get a technician to your home. A tune-up is the best way to find out if your system needs major attention or an upgrade. And if all you need is minor service, it will not “wear off” between now and the winter. Keep in mind that tune-ups are included with our heating oil service plans, so if you’re not enrolled, now’s the time to do that as well!
When you burn heating oil in your furnace or boiler, soot and scale are part of the story. Soot is a powdery, black carbon deposit, while scale is flakes of rust and minerals that are created by a combination of carbon dioxide and water vapor.
When burners or pipes are hit with buildup of either one, your heating system’s efficiency will be diminished. This can lead to a breakdown, and soot can even be a fire hazard if it’s not removed. Another serious consequence of soot is that it can lead to carbon monoxide issues as well. Please contact us to set up an appointment to have any soot or scale buildup removed.
Depending on the type of air filter you have, it either needs to be replaced or cleaned periodically. Most systems recommend quarterly, but if you have anyone in your household with a sensitivity to any change in the air quality, or furry pets, it’s worth changing or updating your air filter more frequently. And really, it’s a good idea to check your air filter at least every six to eight weeks no matter what.
If you fill up your oil tank during the summer, you’re setting yourself up for success this winter. First, you’ll probably get a better price on your fuel while demand is lower. Second—and more importantly—having a full tank will prevent corrosion. The summer heat leads to condensation, and that moisture inside your heating oil tank leads to the formation of corrosion as well as harmful bacteria. Once your tank is damaged, it’s likely irreparable. A simple fill-up can prevent all of that headache and likely save your tank.
Enroll in a heating oil service plan and automatic heating oil delivery with Murray-Heutz today! Contact us with your questions and our knowledgeable and helpful customer service team will be there to help!
