Good Home Post

How to Evaluate Your HVAC System

Posted on 12. Oct, 2009 by Oksana Irwin in Good Home, Good Home Living

It is recommended that you have your HVAC system professionally serviced at least every two years. However, knowing how to evaluate the system yourself can place you in a better position to make an educated decision on whether it needs to be serviced sooner.

STEP 1: Test your Carbon Monoxide Detector
In the beginning of the heating season, before turning your furnace on, test your carbon monoxide detector to make sure it is working properly to assure that your furnace is not leaking Carbon Monoxide.

STEP 2 – Check the furnace area and make sure that:

- No combustibles are stored nearby
- Nothing restricts airflow for the furnace and return air vents
- There is no blockage, corrosion or damage to the chimney or combustion air supply

STEP 3 – Visually inspect your furnace:
Look for black soot or combustion residue on and around the furnace…soot build up is a sign of improper combustion caused by a defect in the furnace or vent system and requires professional attention

Check the flames in the burner – they should be blue and steady, not yellow/orange and flickering. The latter is a sign of improper combustion and requires professional assistance to take care of the problem

STEP 5 – Check the condition and tension of the fan belt on the blower – it should be flexible and free of cracks
To check the tension of the belt – simply push down on it: there should be about 1/2 inch of flexibility

STEP 6– Check the air filters
If they are dirty or congested, they need to be changed or cleaned depending on the type of filter you have. Typically, for the best results, all filters need to be serviced every two to three months.

If you find that your HVAC system does not meet the outlined standards — it is important to have it professionally serviced to ensure healthy indoor air, as well as efficient operations of the HVAC equipment.

Tags: air filter, evaluate hvac system, hvac, inspect furnace, test carbon monoxide