If this is the first year that you are a homeowner, you may find that there are lots of tasks you have never had to do before. One task, in particular, is coming up soon. It is the annual furnace maintenance, and it really should be done every year. If nothing else, you should hire furnace maintenance services this year and have the technician come back at least every other year (if you forget). Here is what is usually involved in this task, and how your HVAC technician will complete the job.

Change the Air Filter

Every furnace has an air filter. If you use the really cheap filters, you will need to change filters every month. If you pay a little extra, you can change them every two, three, or four months. Your technician will use the cheapest filters unless you request something more expensive and longer-lasting. 

Clean the Ducts

Cleaning out the ducts, at least around the air filter and inside the furnace itself, ensures that your furnace will operate optimally. It also prevents a lot of dust and lightweight debris from being forced into the air in the rooms where you live and breathe. The ducts will remain clean for about another year, possibly more if you do not have pets.

Check the Electrical Components

By electrical components they mean the thermostat, the wiring, the igniter or ignition switch, and the electronic switchboards inside the furnace, if they are present. (Older furnaces do not currently have electronic switchboards.) The technician will make sure everything is in good working order and that your furnace is receiving good electrical flow and communication signals. 

Check the Fan and the Motor That Controls the Fan

There is a giant fan located inside a furnace. The fan is responsible for making sure all of the hot air created gets moved up through the ducts and vents and into your home. There is a powerful motor that controls the fan's blades too. It is important that these motors are checked so that they, too, are working properly and that they will be effective at pushing hot air upward into the forced air system in your home. 

Put the A/C to Rest

Your air conditioning unit needs to be put to bed (so to speak) for the winter. This protects your heating and cooling system as a whole. It only takes a few extra minutes for your technician to complete this part of the task.