Home furnace maintenance.

[PT Doc]

We have a high efficiency Carrier furnace. 4 years old. Modulating gas valve, 2 speed fan. I took the cover off the coil and vacuumed a bit but it was surprising clean. I took the 2 covers off the rest of the unit and cleaned around the gas valves and in the lower section as well. Not much to clean since it was pretty good.

What other maintenance can be done as preventative maintenance.? I can call the company that installed the unit but would like to know. Everything is running well. I change out the humidifier pads 2x per season and clean the Energy Recovery Ventilator core and filters every 3 months. 6” MERV 16 April Aire air cleaner filter is replaced yearly as recommended and the pre filter is cleaned every 6 months.

AC condenser is 2 speed. I plan on getting a replacement igniter just to have as well as start cap for condensers.

Similar setup is in the attic but this lays horizontally and obviously does not have humidifier nor ERV.

Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[yeldogt]

You are doing more than most. Keeping the filters clean is important.

IMO -- never touch the sealed system unless there is a problem.


I clean my outside unit in the spring -- wash down with some car wash/ with wax.

 

[Jeepster04]

Other than using a quality filter, the only thing I've ever done was drop some tablets in the condensate tray...

 

[brewchief]

Remove and clean the burners, clean flame sensor, clear all drain lines, all pressure switch hoses and clean the condensate trap and drains.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[SGKent]

have someone check the TESP on it to be sure the ducts and filters are within spec. My Carrier dealer said it was but when I checked it, it wasn't, and I just finished having the ducting upgraded so the TESP falls within factory spec. The motor and circuit boards will thank you.

 

[Bert_]

They don't need much. At 4 years old I wouldn't do a darn thing.

My furnace is about 25 years old. I might vacuum it out and put a couple drops of oil in the blower and draft inducer fan ever few years.

 

[Showkey]

Furnace should not be a new DIY hobby.........simple checks and blow the dust.

Typical HVAC service might be a quick check, blow the dust out and bill $150.

 

[danski0224]

The only way to assess whether or not it is actually running correctly is with a combustion.

It can look or sound ok, but not burn correctly, which will create carbon monoxide. If there is a problem, that CO can enter the living space.

 

[kTHREE]

Furnace should not be a new DIY hobby.........simple checks and blow the dust.

Typical HVAC service might be a quick check, blow the dust out and bill $150.

Completely disagree. Sure when it comes to pressures and what not I can see that due to required certs, but for regular maintenance, no way. It's in my home and I should take the time to learn how to maintain and repair things that I can.

Sadly the last HVAC company that came to my house pulled the ol' "your heat exchanger is cracked, your going to die, your CO detectors should be going off, get out of the house." Had an hvac relative come down and verify, complete BS. Showed me how to clean/check, brush down. Furnace is still chugging along 5 years later.

Just like any other task in the service industry, having intimate knowledge can not only same time and money, but keep the scammers at bay.

Had the same damn thing happen to my car the other day. Brought it in for warranty work, "oh you need new tires." The car has 12k miles on it. "Oh sorry they wrote down 120k". Fuckers didn't even look at the tires, which I had brand new snow tires and after market wheels.

Maybe I look like a chump.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

On the DIY vs Professional thing...I see both sides. I'm very lucky in that I can do most things myself AND have contacts in HVAC that I can go to for advice OR to schedule them to over if it looks like something I can't handle.

To the OP's question....good advice here. Furncaces are mostly trouble free. Pros probably run into issues where problems were caused by not keep this clean or that clean...but my experience has generally been things like the draft inducer motor crapping out or a sensor fails, or the igniter needs replaced....In other words...things that are going to fail pretty much regardless of how much PM someone is doing...

To me, having a spare igniter, stuck in a padded envelope, laying on top of the return air duct at the furnace, along with a box of filters and a spare pad for my humidifier is more important than how dusty the unit is. But that's just me.

Phil

 

[Showkey]

Completely disagree. Sure when it comes to pressures and what not I can see that due to required certs, but for regular maintenance, no way. It's in my home and I should take the time to learn how to maintain and repair things that I can.

Sadly the last HVAC company that came to my house pulled the ol' "your heat exchanger is cracked, your going to die, your CO detectors should be going off, get out of the house." Had an hvac relative come down and verify, complete BS. .

You took my hobby comment the wrong way. I 100% agree as GJ guy you should try to know as much as possible as the devices and equipment in the home and shop. The required certs are the real joke in HVAC. Trying to re-engineer a duct system that’s been in service for 20 years is a new hobby that has little merit. But furnace service and maintenance is well with in many DIY areas.......but it’s important to know your limitations as with any project. It’s far from rocket science.

Your not he first to get upsold at the “fall service”.......the some pay huge commissions on every UPSELL.

I have an igniter, pressure switches, draft blower and variable blower in stock for my furnace. Several parts used checked and purchased or acquired for free or pennies on the dollar.