Inspect and Start Your Gas Furnace
Inspect and Start Your Gas Furnace
Inspect and Start Your Gas Furnace
- Rusted or Corroded Side Panels
- Water Spots or Orange Spots on the Floor around the Gas Furnace
- Signs that the Gas Furnace has Moved or Shifted Its Position (Look for visual clues around the base of the gas furnace)
If you see any of the signs above, you should inspect further or call in a qualified local contractor
Turn Off Power Source and Inspect Wiring.
Next, find the circuit breaker panel or shut-off switch for the gas furnace and make sure the power is turned off! While we are not going to do much with the electrical wiring and controls systems, it is very important to make sure you treat electrical power very carefully!
Visually Inspect All Wiring for Chaffed or Cut Casings
Gently bend the Wires to Make Sure the Casings are not Dry-Rotted
Carefully Check the Connectors and Make Sure there are no Loose or Exposed Wires
For most minor electric issues like loose or exposed wires, you can repair these on your own. If you are not comfortable however, it's worth it to call out a Qualified HVAC Maintenance company to take care of the problem! One wrong move when it comes to electrical can short out other items that may not be covered under the system warranty if you do it yourself!
Side Panels, Duct and General Mechanical
The next step of a DIY Gas Furnace inspection, is to check the mechanical aspects of the heating system!
Check the Side Panels of the Furnace to be sure they are Properly Closed and Fastened!
Remove the Furnace Filter and Replace it with a New Filter if you have not done so within the last 30 days!
Inspect where the Evaporator Coil or Sheet Metal Duct is connected to the Gas Furnace, to make sure they are not loose fitting or have areas that need to be resealed.
Carefully Move the Duct Very Slightly at one of the Connections to see if it moves and shifts easily! If so, this may mean you need to have your duct system re-sealed!
If any of the side panels do not fit tightly, or the duct work has come loose from your furnace, you should call out your local HVAC Service Company to correct the problem before starting the unit!
Gas Furnace Exhaust Flue System
As we all know, Carbon Monoxide is the silent and deadly killer! Your furnace flue system is the path CO takes to leave your home and is one of the most important parts of the gas furnace, aside from the unit itself!
The Flue should be Inspected from the Furnace, all the way Out of the Roof of your Home!
All Pipe Joints should be Tightly Sealed to Prevent ANY leakage into the Home
No Parts of the Flue Pipe should be Touching ANY Combustible Surfaces like Drywall or Wood!
Inspecting the furnace flue pipe is usually best left to a professional who knows exactly what to look for! If you have ANY doubts about the condition of your gas furnace flue pipe, call your local HVAC contractor for an inspection! Your life depends on it!
Finally If you feel that your gas furnace needs further attention, call a local professional before ever starting the unit! Otherwise, turn the power switch and circuit breaker back on, and get ready to start your furnace!
Gas Furnace Start Up Tips
Now that you have performed a basic inspection of your home gas furnace, it's time to take a few additional safety precautions, and start up your furnace for the first time of the heating season!
Replace or Test the Battery in your Carbon Monoxide Detector (Or install one if you don't have one!)
- Replace or Test your Smoke and Fire Detectors!
- Make Sure you have a Fully Charged and Ready Fire Extinguisher in your Home
- Make Sure there are No Combustibles Anywhere Near Your Gas Furnace!
Head on over to the Thermostat, turn it to the heat mode, set the temperature higher than it's currently at in the home and wait for the gas furnace to start up! When it starts for the first time of the season, you will probably hear small crackling noises from the duct work expanding and contracting, and also notice a foul smell in the home... this is generally dust or cobwebs that have to burn off from the system heat exchanger.
If the heating system doesn't start within 5 minutes, call out a Qualified HVAC Company to service your gas furnace! Actually, if you have not had the system serviced from a prof3essional in the last 12 months, you should call them out for annual maintenance! It may even be required to maintain the factory warranty!
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