Tune Ups

It's that time of year again.

Winter is made famous by its idyllic snowy scenes and the joy of the holiday season, but it is hardly so welcome when your heating system fails. And while you're bundled up in piles of blankets, waiting for your local company to come out and save the day, you're left wondering how this could have happened.

What could you have done to prevent the situation entirely?

The answer, believe it or not, is as simple as scheduling a heating tune-up.

What is a heating tune-up?

A heating tune-up is when a technician comes to your home to inspect your heating system. Whether it's a heating pump or gas furnace, their goal is to check for the safety and efficiency of your heating system.

But why schedule a tune-up before something goes wrong? Why spend the money to fix something that isn't broken?

Heating and cooling systems are very much an 'out of sight, out of mind' appliance. Most homeowners don't give their system much consideration until it stops working properly. But by scheduling regular maintenance, most problems can be resolved before they even arise, and our customers have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their system is operating at peak efficiency.

Safety is paramount, particularly with those homes that utilize gas furnaces. Gas heating comes with its own dangers— dangers that you, as a homeowner, may not be aware of. During a heating tune-up, our technicians check all accessible gas lines for leaks, as well as inspecting the functionality of the gas valve to ensure that gas is not seeping into the home.

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, but very real danger. Most homes are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, but what many people don't know is that these alarms are only tripped when carbon monoxide levels reach a lethal level. They do not respond to low levels of carbon monoxide, which can cause persistent flu-like symptoms without residents ever suspecting the cause.

Our technicians test for these low-level carbon monoxide gases, as well as testing all safety controls that protect the home from dangerous gas emissions. They also inspect the flue to ensure proper ventilation—if the flue is obstructed, then the flue gases can back up into your home.

Here is a comprehensive list of all that a heating tune-up entails:

• Check Heat Anticipator
• Check Limit Switches
• Check Thermocouple
• Check Gas Lines for Leaks
• Check Gas Valve
• Check Flue to Ensure Proper Draft
• Check Draft Motor
• Check Sequencer
• Check Burners
• Check for Carbon Monoxide Output
• Inspect Heat Exchanger for Cracks
• Clean and Adjust Burner Assembly
• Clean Ignition Assembly
• Test Safety Controls
• Check Air Filters
• Check Blower Wheel
• Measure Volts/Amps
• Adjust Thermostat Calibration
• Measure Temperature Difference
• Monitor Heating Cycles
• Inspect Pilot Operation; adjust as necessary
• Inspect Cracked Heat Exchanger
• Adjust Gas Pressure as Necessary
• Check Contractors and Capacitors
• Inspect Vent Connector

Feel free to contact your friendly neighborhood HVAC team at (703) 591-5400 to find out more about our current tune-up specials.

Central Services Heating and Air Conditioning Co., Inc. proudly serves the following cities in Virginia:

• Ashburn
• Burke
• Centreville
• Fairfax
• Fairfax Station
• Great Falls
• Herndon
• Lake Ridge
• Mclean

• Oakton
• Potomac Falls
• Reston
• South Riding
• Springfield
• Sterling
• Tysons
• Vienna