Yearly Maintenance for Home Comfort Systems
Like a car, a heating or cooling 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 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 oil burner and the boiler. The technician performs the following steps as needed:
- Replace the oil filter cartridge or the complete oil filter
- Inspect oil lines
- Replace the strainer in the oil pump
- Adjust 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 oil burner and the furnace. The technician performs the following steps as needed:
- Clean or replace air filter
- Replace the oil filter cartridge or the complete oil filter
- Replace the strainer in the oil pump
- Inspect oil lines
- Adjust 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 oil filter cartridge or the filter itself
- Replace the oil filter strainer
- Inspect oil lines
- Check the primary control
- Adjust 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 14 point Tune-Up, in the Spring:
- Lubricate all moving parts including bearings, blower motor, and condenser
fan motor
- Install gauges and check operating pressures
- Evaluate condition of air filters, clean or replace with disposable fiberglass filters
- Check refrigerant charge; additional refrigerant is extra
- Check condensate for a clean drain to protect against overflow
- Check outdoor condenser coil
- Check blower motor (and adjust belt if applicable)
- Check evaporator coil
- Test "temperature drop" at return and supply
- Safety test all controls for proper operation
- Test operation of compressor contacts
- Inspect capacitors and relays for bulges, rust and leaks
- Tighten and safety check all wires and connections
- Inform customer of condition of equipment and recommend repairs when necessary
