Halton Heater Maintenance

“Just put on another sweater!” While that may have been your father’s go-to solution for heater problems, there is a way to ensure that you stay cozy and warm all winter long, regardless of what you are wearing: regular, professional Halton heater maintenance services. Comfortable heating for your home is necessary to survive the winter in Halton and other parts of Ontario, so it can be very stressful and frustrating when you are not confident in your heater’s ability to make it through the coldest months of the year and keep your house as snug and warm as you like it to be.

Nothing lasts forever, and that is especially true of your heating system, whether it is a furnace, boiler or heat exchanger. But you can significantly increase the lifespan of your system with annual maintenance service—and save a lot of money by increasing the energy efficiency of your heating unit. You will also reduce stress by having the peace of mind that comes with knowing your system is in excellent condition and ready for the heating season in Halton.

Stop shivering in your own home and call your Halton HVAC service professionals. At Aire Serv of Halton, we provide expert heater maintenance services. With years—and in some cases, decades—of experience with heating and cooling systems in Halton, we have the expertise and skill required to get your heater operating properly and efficiently so you don’t need to worry about the chilly months ahead.

Signs You Need Halton Heater Maintenance Services

Wondering if your system is due (or overdue) for heater maintenance? Halton homeowners often only call a service professional when their heater stops heating altogether, but if you know some of the less obvious signs of trouble, you can get help before there is a catastrophic failure that causes a huge disruption in your life and makes a costly replacement necessary.

• House Doesn’t Get Warm Enough: This is probably the most glaring sign of heating trouble other than a complete breakdown. If your home just never seems to get all the way up to the temperature you have set on the thermostat when it is cold outside, that is definitely an issue that needs to be corrected—and it can be prevented in the future with routine maintenance.

• Hot and Cold Zones: Is one part of your house freezing cold, while another part is absolutely sweltering? Uneven heating that creates hot and cold zones across the house can be caused by problems such as clogged ductwork or other issues that can be fixed. Professional maintenance services will ensure every room is heated to a comfortable temperature.

• Strange Noises: Did you hear that!? Your heating system should only make a quiet humming noise when it is on (or, in the case of boilers, be totally silent). If you are hearing rattling, banging, grinding or other unusual sounds coming from heat registers or the unit itself, something is not right and the system needs maintenance.

• Foul Odours: If you smell anything unusual coming from ducts, such as burning plastic, turn the system off right away and call a professional, as it could be an electrical failure. If the smell is more of a musty or rotting smell, it could be related to mold in the ducts, or some kind of pest problem.

• Excessive Dust: You just dusted yesterday, and there is already a coating of dust on all your surfaces—or you can see visible motes of dust in the air. That is a sign of a dirty filter that desperately needs to be changed to improve your air quality, which is one of the tasks we cover during an annual tune-up.

Halton Heater Maintenance Can Save You Money—Here’s How

If you are looking for ways to save money, your HVAC service professional can help. In fact, there are two main ways that annual Halton heater maintenance can keep your money in your bank account where it belongs.

Improved Energy Efficiency

Would you like to pay less for heating on your monthly utility bill? During the winter in Halton, heating is probably the single most expensive item on your bill by far, which makes sense because keeping your house warm requires a lot of energy consumption. But the truth is, if you are not getting regular maintenance for your heating system, your energy costs are a lot higher than they need to be.

The energy efficiency of your heating system is measured by its annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE), which is the unit’s annual fuel consumption as opposed to its annual heat output, expressed as a ratio. For example, if your system has an AFUE rating of 90%, it converts 90% of the fuel it uses into thermal energy to heat your house, and 10% is lost.

Over time, your unit suffers wear and tear and its efficiency is reduced. An old system in Halton that has not been properly maintained may be down to a 60% AFUE rating, or even worse. By keeping the unit well-maintained, clean and operating smoothly, we can make it more efficient, so it needs to use a lot less fuel to provide the same amount of heat. That could translate to big savings on your energy bill.

No Unexpected Breakdowns

As your system ages, it slowly deteriorates—and if the problems that develop because of wear and tear are not corrected early on, they become worse and worse until a component (or multiple components) of the system break down altogether. That is aggravating and can cause some major problems for the comfort and livability of your home, but it also means you will need Halton heater repair services more often, and the repairs will be more time-consuming and costly than they would have been if the issue was taken care of sooner.

Annual Halton heating maintenance will drastically reduce chances for equipment breakdown because it gives our experienced service professionals the opportunity to spot potential trouble areas and fix them before they can create an expensive, time-consuming problem for you.

Trust the Pros at Aire Serv for Expert Heater Maintenance

Aire Serv of Halton is a locally owned and operated business. We take great pride in serving the people of Halton in communities such as Oakville, Georgetown, and Acton with dependable heater maintenance service and other heating and cooling services that are designed to keep your HVAC system in ideal condition so it can heat your home efficiently for many years to come.

Total Comfort Tune-Up

Wondering what you can expect during a yearly Halton heater maintenance appointment? Aire Serv of Halton’s Total Comfort Tune-Up covers all the bases to keep your furnace, boiler or heat pump in perfect working order for another year.

First, we will perform a thorough annual inspection with diagnostic checks for your system and home, looking for any indications that your heater has suffered damage or is not performing optimally. We check for signs such as rust, corrosion, cracks and other symptoms of decay or malfunction on all the parts of the system.

Next, we perform any repairs that are needed since our last visit, or make recommendations for an additional service like Halton furnace replacement if it is necessary. Finally, we take care of a wide range of maintenance tasks such as:

• Inspecting electrical parts and burners
• Changing air filters
• Inspecting safety controls
• Lubricating motorized parts
• Inspecting fans and ensuring adequate air flow
• Performing an amp-draw test
• Calibrating your thermostat
• Inspecting the gas line to check for carbon monoxide leaks
• Adjusting, replacing and maintaining belts
• Examining heat exchanger for signs of corrosion
• Straightening crushed condenser fins
• Inspecting the condensate drain line

The Aire Serv Advantage Plan

We mentioned above that there are two ways Halton heater maintenance can save you money, but there is actually a third way as well: sign up for the Aire Serv Advantage Plan. Along with scheduled Halton heater maintenance service and a boiler, heat pump or furnace tune up, the Advantage Plan gives you access to priority pricing, priority service and scheduling, discounts with other Neighborly brands and validation for equipment warranties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heater Maintenance in Halton, ON

Would you like to know more about our Halton heater maintenance service, or other expert services for your heating and cooling system? No problem! Just give us a call to chat with our friendly customer service representatives and get all your questions answered, or check out our answers to some frequently asked Halton heater maintenance questions below.

When Is the Best Time for Halton Heater Maintenance?

Ideally, Halton heater maintenance should take place just before the weather turns cold, so your heating unit is ready to go when you need to turn it on for the first time in autumn. If at all possible, book your maintenance appointment for late summer or early fall, so our service professionals have a chance to get everything tuned up and well-prepared for the colder season ahead.

Why Does My Furnace Shut Off After 15 Minutes?

Your furnace turns on when the thermostat tells it that the temperature in your home has dropped below what you have set it to. It usually runs in about 15-minute cycles, so that in itself is not unusual. However, if you notice the furnace is turning off at 15 minutes every time, even though your home is not adequately heated, something’s not quite right.

It could be an issue with the flame sensor, an oversized unit, a clogged air filter or even a faulty thermostat. Our Halton furnace repair experts will be able to investigate, find out what is causing the problem and prevent it from happening in the future.

Are Gas-Powered Heaters Dangerous?

Both an electric heater and a natural gas heater need regular maintenance, but there is an additional risk when a gas-powered unit is not properly maintained. The system creates carbon monoxide, the colorless, odorless gas that is fatal when it is inhaled in large quantities. That carbon monoxide is normally vented safely outdoors where it can't do any harm, but when you have issues such as a clogged vent because of a lack of furnace maintenance, the gas can seep into your home instead and pose a serious risk to the health and safety of you and your family. Routine maintenance will prevent that from happening, but it is important to have carbon monoxide detectors installed on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas, as an added precaution.

Is There Anything I Can Do to Make My Heater Run More Efficiently?

While professional maintenance is the best way to increase efficiency, there are a few things anyone in Halton can do to help their system along and increase their energy savings. Here are our top three recommendations for improving Halton heater efficiency:

• Change air filters as often as needed. How frequently you need to change them depends on the size of the filter, among other things, so check the manufacturer’s instructions for your unit carefully. If you notice that the filter is visibly dirty, or there is an excessive amount of dust in your home and allergies are acting up, it is time to swap out the filter.
• Seal window frames, door jambs and other vulnerable areas of your home against air drafts that let warm air escape and cause your heater to have to operate longer to get your house heated.
• Install a programmable thermostat that can be scheduled to turn off during times when you are typically out of the house, or turn down when you are sleeping, which will conserve a considerable amount of energy.

Ready to Schedule an Appointment for Annual Heater Maintenance in Halton?

Whether you have a boiler, heat pump or furnace, your system needs regular heater maintenance to function safely and efficiently. Rely on the pros at Aire Serv of Halton for expert workmanship and outstanding customer service in Oakville and other parts of Halton.

Pick up the phone and give us a call today to book a heater maintenance service appointment, or to speak with our knowledgeable office staff about what we can do to make your Halton home more comfortable and livable!