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Yearly Maintenance for Home Comfort Systems

Like a car, a heating or air conditioning system requires periodic preventive maintenance to avoid breakdowns and unsafe conditions and to achieve optimum efficiency. When a knowledgeable technician inspects a system, they can detect and repair small problems that could lead to expensive repairs if not fixed - saving the owner thousands of dollars.

A well-maintained system also lowers your energy costs, because it requires less energy to deliver the same level of comfort. Depending on the equipment, a tune-up can reduce consumption of heating oil or electricity by 5% to 10%.

Annual tuning also helps you enjoy peace of mind knowing that you are extending the life of your valuable equipment, saving energy, and reducing the chance of a system failure at a critical time.

Preventive maintenance is included in the Dominick Fuel heating system Service Plans.

Boiler

Annual service for an oil-fired boiler includes service of the heating oil burner and the boiler. The technician performs the following steps as needed:

• Replace the heating oil filter cartridge or the complete heating oil filter
  
• Inspect heating oil lines
  
• Replace the strainer in the heating oil pump
  
• Adjust heating oil pump pressure
  
• Replace the nozzle
  
• Clean combustion head
  
• Tune burner to improve combustion efficiency
  
• Check the functioning of the primary control
  
• Lubricate motors and bearings
  
• Clean the boiler interior and smoke pipe
  
• Inspect the base of the chimney
  
• Clean and test low-water cutoff (steam systems)
  
• Test combustion efficiency
  
• Bleed pockets of air from radiators (steam systems)
  
• Check the expansion tank
  

Furnace

Annual service for an oil-fired furnace includes service of the heating oil burner and the furnace. The technician performs the following steps as needed:

• Clean or replace air filter
  
• Replace the heating oil filter cartridge or the complete heating oil filter
  
• Replace the strainer in the heating oil pump
  
• Inspect heating oil lines
  
• Adjust heating oil pump pressure
  
• Replace the nozzle
  
• Tune burner to improve combustion efficiency
  
• Check the functioning of the primary control
  
• Lubricate motors and bearings
  
• Clean combustion head
  
• Clean blower motor and fan assembly
  
• Adjust or replace blower belt
  
• Clean the furnace interior and smoke pipe
  
• Check furnace interior for damage
  
• Inspect the base of the chimney
  
• Test combustion efficiency
  

Hot Water Heater

Hot water heaters require annual maintenance to prevent tank deterioration. Direct-fired water heaters also require inspection and tuning of the burner and inspection/adjustment of related parts.

• Check and replace anode rods*
  
• Replace the nozzle
  
• Replace the heating oil filter cartridge or the filter itself
  
• Replace the heating oil filter strainer
  
• Inspect heating oil lines
  
• Check the primary control
  
• Adjust heating oil pump pressure
  
• Lubricate burner motor
  
• Clean burner interior
  
• Clean combustion head
  
• Tune burner
  
• Test combustion efficiency
  

*Most residential hot water heaters have immersed anode rods. Made of aluminum or magnesium, anode rods protect the interior (water side) of the hot water heater from the process of electrolysis, which is the decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen, caused by stray electric current found in every structure. Electrolysis attacks metal and causes deterioration. Because the anode rods are softer than the interior of the hot water heater tank, electrolysis attacks them first. When the anodes rods are totally disintegrated, electrolysis starts eating the tank and shortens its life. Anode rods should be checked or replaced yearly to prevent damage to the tank.

Central Air Conditioning

During annual maintenance for a central air conditioning system, a technician should perform the following 13 point Tune-Up, in the Spring:

1. Lubricate all moving parts including bearings, blower motor, and condenser
   fan motor
   
2. Install gauges and check operating pressures
   
3. Evaluate condition of air filters, clean or replace with disposable fiberglass filters
   
4. Check refrigerant charge; additional refrigerant is extra
   
5. Check condensate for a clean drain to protect against overflow
   
6. Check outdoor condenser coil
   
7. Check blower motor (and adjust belt if applicable)
   
8. Check evaporator coil
   
9. Test "temperature drop" at return and supply
   
10. Safety test all controls for proper operation
    
11. Test operation of compressor contacts
    
12. Inspect capacitors and relays for bulges, rust and leaks
    
13. Tighten and safety check all wires and connections
    
14. Inform customer of condition of equipment and recommend repairs when necessary