Before winter arrives, you must ensure that your heater is working perfectly and is safe to use. For this, you should contact a reliable maintenance service provider and get your heater checked every once in a while. But the real question lies here- how often should you get it checked? It depends on several factors. While some get it checked once every few months, others let it lie dormant for years. Since your heater is constantly put into use during the cold season, getting it checked, inspected, and serviced on a regular basis is of the utmost importance. Take a look at these factors to understand how often you should get your heater inspected.
Consider the Season
It goes without saying that your heater should be inspected before winter arrives. Since heaters can go into a state of disrepair if left untouched for long, it is wiser to hire a maintenance guy before turning it on. The frequency of repair also depends on the amount of heat your family uses during the winter season. In colder regions, you will need the heater to run day and night and at a higher temperature, which can put a lot of load on the appliance. If you rely on it more than others, get it inspected at least once in 6 months.
On the other hand, if you barely use your heater all year, an annual inspection will work. This applies to individuals who experience hot summers and cold or mildly cold winters. If you are in a similar situation, get your heater checked once fall arrives. Individuals living in regions with extremely hot summers and no winters majorly don’t own heaters. However, if you do, getting it checked once every 2 to 3 years is a safe bet. Homes in such regions are equipped with electric heaters or HVAC systems that warm the house. In such cases, the service providers check the wires, clean the filters, and remove dust and debris buildup.
Recognize your Heater’s Design
Next, take the design and style of your heater into account. This will help you measure your heater’s effectiveness, performance, and need for maintenance. For instance, furnaces and gas heaters need more maintenance and care as compared to modern designs. When it comes to servicing your heater, hire a professional who truly knows the design of your appliance inside out as it can potentially cause hazards that can also be fatal. Heaters with a finicky design also need more inspection and maintenance. Since electric heaters are devoid of volatile components, they do not need a lot of maintenance.
Consider your Heater’s Age and Condition
Needless to say, you must get your heater checked if it is quite old, especially before you wish to use it as winter begins. If you get a smell similar to burning dust when you turn your heater on, it is an indication that you must get it checked at the earliest. The smell can be due to various reasons such as the accumulation of sediments, clogged fuels, frayed wires, and gas light issues. This is why you must get it checked before you turn it on after a long time. This is also applicable to new heaters. Do not take the risk of tweaking the features on your own; take help from a professional as they are well-versed with all designs and features of most heaters.
Once winter is over and you need to turn your heater off for at least 6 to 7 months to come, get it checked and serviced to avoid hazards. This will also keep its condition intact and ready for the next cold season. Maintenance service providers check the furnace and clean it out once winter finishes, after which they can be closed or turned off for a prolonged period. Other factors considered when inspecting and servicing heaters are oil buildup, debris cleanup, and wear-and-tear analysis.
Failing to get your heater checked and serviced at regular intervals can not only increase the risk of accidents but also cost a lot of money to get it replaced. Even though regular servicing costs may initially seem more, you can save a lot of money in the long run. Basically, you must get your heat inspected and serviced at least once a year to enhance its performance and experience even heating during the cold season. Getting your heater regularly inspected will also help you catch issues at an early stage and prevent major ones from occurring. Since owning a heater is a major responsibility, getting it checked once a year helps you get hold of any lurking issue before it’s too late.
