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Not all preventive maintenance is created equal…
Not all preventive maintenance is created equal…
Posted: July 5, 2018
We often talk about the important role that routine annual maintenance plays in protecting your home heating system investment.
But not all routine maintenance is created equal.
When it comes to diagnosing your heating system, we go a little further than most heating oil and HVAC companies – especially when it comes to making what we do easy to understand for customers who don’t have technical or mechanical expertise.
In addition to telling you what we did to maintain your equipment, our Report Card also describes the results of six important performance tests, including:
Exhaust draft – This measures the strength of airflow as heating emissions are carried away from your home. Values within acceptable limits mean that emissions are safely being removed from your home; it also means the air you pay to heat is staying in your living space.
Carbon dioxide percentage – Within normal ranges, CO2 is a safe and necessary by-product of an operating heating system; if CO2 levels are outside the normal range, it can indicate an incorrect mix of oxygen and hydrogen during the combustion process, which could mean your system is underperforming.
Exhaust temperature – This measures the temperature of the air leaving your home. A high reading can mean you’re losing too much heat to your chimney; by measuring this temperature we can tell if you are getting the most value from your heating system.
Smoke – This measures how much carbon (in the form of soot) is contained in the air flowing from your heating system’s exhaust. Higher numbers indicate incomplete combustion, which requires additional service. Early detection and maintenance can help prevent more costly repairs later.
Carbon monoxide (CO) – This measures the amount of carbon monoxide produced by your heating system. A properly operating heating system is very safe, but a malfunctioning or poorly maintained heating system can lead to a build up of CO – a dangerous and potentially deadly gas.
Combustion efficiency – This measures how much heat you’re getting for your fuel dollar; the higher the number, the more value you’re getting from your system and fuel purchases.
We don’t know of any HVAC or heating oil companies – in or out of the State of Maine – that go as far as we do to explain what we did and why we did it. We think you deserve to know!
Did you know that four out of five of the most common heating system repairs come as a result of neglecting routine maintenance? Don’t skip your annual equipment service – beat the late summer rush and schedule heating maintenance for your Maine-area home today.