“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but fire is so delightful… “Unless you’ve a heater that not working- “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! There are few things more distressing during the winter months than to discover that  furnace repair West Lafayette is needed! After all, it seems that West Lafayette furnace repairs are never needed on the warm days, or even the days when it would be somewhat “convenient”! No, it is always a cold day when company is expected or someone is home sick… timing, got to love it, right?

Well, actually, keeping furnace repair West Lafayette from being necessary can be done by employing some preventative maintenance. After all, a wise man once said that, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So, to keep furnace repairs at a minimum, follow these suggestions from furnace repair pros.

· Having your heater serviced at least once every couple of years (more is great, but not mandatory) by a West Lafayette furnace technician will keep your furnace in great working order and allow you to stay ahead of any parts that need to be replaced or repaired. Much like keeping the oil clean in your automobile, having a technician look over your furnace can help it run better, thus keeping your home warm without paying higher energy costs.

· Be sure that you have the right size furnace for the square footage of your home. Having a furnace that is either too large or too small means that it will work much harder than necessary making energy cost higher.

· Before you hurry to call in a West Lafayette furnace repair person be certain the pilot light is on, and that the circuit breaker for the furnace is in the “On” position.

· Sometimes, the best way to save is to buy a new one. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, it can actually be more cost effective to upgrade rather than merely repair.

· Be certain that duct work is cleaned and that air filters are replaced as per manufacturer’s advice. The filter is there to trap allergens and dirt that can cause people harm as well as gum of the workings of your furnace. Keep in in mind that during the winter season, it can be necessary to change the filters on a monthly basis!

Heater repairs in West Lafayette can truly be a menace to an otherwise perfectly good day! But, if you are willing to take a few preventative actions, you can keep the problems away – or at least be better prepared should a repair be needed! And, when you do find yourself in need of furnace repairs, be sure to call on pros such as Freedom Heating and Air in Detroit. By calling in a professional, you can rest assured – and warm- that you made a wise decision.

No one wants to endure the stress of dealing with a furnace problem. An HVAC emergency can be difficult to resolve, but an emergency technician can quickly address any mechanical failure. Common emergency furnace repair problems can occur at any time regardless of the age of the system.

Getting to know the furnace

One of the most overlooked furnace maintenance problems is a contaminated filter. If the problem isn’t resolved, the motor in the system can become damaged. If the motor is damaged, the system can stop working altogether. Usually before the furnace motor stops working altogether, there will be a humming noise. This is one of the most common furnace failure problems.

Excess levels of gas are other potential issues that happen with older furnaces. Whenever a crack is detected, the CO2 levels can increase to dangerous levels. The tasteless, odorless gases can be potentially fatal when inhaled at high levels. Homeowners can look for symptoms like dizziness and flu-like symptoms. This can often mean that the furnace is on the brink of failure and may need emergency repairs.

Knowledgeable technicians available around the clock

Knowledgeable technicians available around the clock are able to address any emergency West Lafayette furnace repair problems. Trained technicians have the required training and the necessary expertise to ensure that the repairs are done right the first time. Technicians experienced in working with different models of furnaces can have the system up and running quickly, restoring safety immediately to the home.

Homeowners are most vulnerable during the winter months. Those with older furnaces or furnaces that haven’t been serviced in a long time are most at risk for having emergency furnace problems. Common furnace repair problems can be potentially dangerous for households. Calling a technician to quickly handle any repairs can quickly make the home safe for the residents. Trained technicians available around the clock make it possible to have the furnace quickly repaired to get it back up and running in no time.

Many people heat their homes in the fall and winter using a central furnace. While they are common in many homes, they are often fairly complex machines that the average homeowner knows little about. They require electricity, a combustible fuel source like natural gas, and hot air. In order to heat your entire home, that boiler needs to get really hot. In the 1960s and 1970s, there were roughly four furnace explosions per year on average. Thankfully, modern technological advancements have brought that number down to only about 0.3 per year. Regular furnace repair and maintenance can help keep the risks low.

Even with the dramatic reduction in furnace-related accidents, there are still occasional news stories on the catastrophic and often tragic results that can arise from faulty boilers. In late 2012, a home in Indianapolis exploded, killing two people and damaging at least a dozen homes so severely they had to be demolished. The homeowner, John Shirley, told the press that he believed a faulty heater was to blame. He and family members reported smelling gas in the days leading up to the explosion.

While the Shirley family did report hiring a contractor to repair the unit, their chosen handyman clearly did not do a sufficient job. Further, by the time a homeowner is smelling a gas leak, he or she has likely already lapsed in allowing things to get to that point. Regularly scheduled inspections for furnace repair and maintenance can make a huge difference.

One contractor states that approximately 95 percent of all explosions could be avoided with annual maintenance visits. Being aware of the potential is also a big part of the solution. That contractor reports that on one job he was called in to look at an air conditioning unit and, while in the house, asked the customer if he’d like him to inspect the heating unit. The homeowner brushed him off but relented when the contractor reminded him that “you can’t be too careful.” Upon examination, the contractor discovered a “one in 10,000” problem that could have proved disastrous. The pilot light had gone off, and the redundant shut-off valve had failed, so gas was slowly filling the home. This particular heater was using propane, which is heavier than air. Because of this denser molecular makeup, propane sits at the bottom of the room and does not emanate as much odor as natural gas. Had an open flame, electric spark, or even mono-filament light bulb come into contact with the gas, it would have combusted and set the whole place ablaze. Thankfully, a bit of precaution and a quick furnace repair negated that nightmare scenario.

While it may not be something we think about every day, our heating system uses potentially dangerous elements to provide warmth. Accidents are extremely unlikely, but remember, “you can’t be too careful.” Get a furnace repair in West Lafayette and maintenance professional to ensure your heating system is working right.