Furnace inspection refers to the assessment of residential or industrial furnace conditions to establish the need for repairs or maintenance. Furnace inspections can be done by property owners, operators, landlords or one can hire a professional and skilled furnace inspector to conduct inspections and maintenance checks. When inspecting furnaces the furnace inspector normally has a furnace maintenance checklist. A furnace maintenance checklist is an inspection tool used to crosscheck the furnace components and their safety controls. The furnace maintenance checklist aims at identifying wear and tear and to establish if there is a need to clean, repair, or replace identified areas or parts. This article briefly discusses reasons for regular furnace maintenance, dangers of neglecting inspections as well as a mobile inspection tool for conducting furnace inspections and maintenance.
Ideally, furnaces are maintained during fall and spring when they are not heavily needed. The aim is to ensure the appliance work optimally when needed during winter. The reasons for regular furnace inspections and maintenance are safety, to promote energy efficiency, and to avoid unexpected breakdowns. Some components such as gas lines require periodic checks to make sure there are no dangerous leaks. Safety controls require to be regularly inspected to ensure they are working at their best. You can make furnace energy efficient by occasionally checking furnace air filters for clogs. If the air filters are not cleaned or often unclogged, it will overwork the furnace and consequently high energy consumption. Preventive maintenance ensures the furnace does not malfunction unexpectedly and disrupt operations of the establishments.
Neglecting furnace inspections can lead to several issues. The truth is the various problems experienced because of ignoring regular inspections and maintenance are preventable with proper furnace care and maintenance. Some of the common problems’ furnace operators or owners encounter due to lack of regular inspections are health and safety hazards, poor furnace operation, and costly repairs. Fire hazards are commonly experienced because of poor furnace maintenance especially when the gas furnace is carelessly installed. Regular furnace inspection can help you identify gas leaks that are dangerous and can cause fire and explosion because methane is highly flammable even in a small amount. Lack to do periodic furnace inspection becomes a health risk where you get exposed to carbon monoxide the byproduct of natural gas which is fatal. This normally happens due to the blockage of the furnace’s ventilation. The signs of carbon monoxide poisoning are nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Accumulation of dust or pollen on the furnace makes it work hard negatively affecting its efficiency in operations. Occasional furnace inspections or maintenance can save you repair costs which can be expensive by ensuring every component of the furnace is in good condition.
Today technology has changed many things. There is no need to write your furnace data on paper. There are mobile apps available that can help you keep your furnace checklist record in digital format which is an easy and safe way to keep your furnace in good condition. Some mobile apps have pre-built furnace inspection templates reducing the hassle of developing one from the scratch.