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The Ultimate Home Maintenance Checklist for the Winter

Your home is the place that you look for when you want comfort, and this means that you want to be able to ensure that it is winter-proof by the time that relentless cold weather hits your location.

It’s important to take the time to create a home maintenance checklist for the winter. The following tips are going to help you keep your home in top condition all year long, regardless of the freezing temperatures.

Get maintenance done on your pipes to avoid freezing

There are many issues that come with the winter, but one of the most common and annoying is when you deal with frozen pipes. Giving proper maintenance and performing certain modifications on your water lines is going to help you avoid this problem.

There are many issues to look into that include ensuring frost-free hose bibs, drained exterior water lines, small leak inspections for your entire plumbing system, and properly insulated plumbing lines near the exterior walls.

Keep your furnace in top shape

When your furnace is not working properly, you are going to be spending more money due to decreased performance. The longer it takes you to give maintenance to your furnace, the more likely it is that you will have to spend more money on repairs. The good news is that you can avoid all of those hassles by hiring a good furnace maintenance provider. Just make sure that you are able to do this before the winter starts.

Get maintenance done on your boiler

Not everyone has a boiler system, but many commercial buildings do, as do homes that have in-floor heating. Boilers can be affected by the winter cold and their performance can be severely damaged while also cutting their lifespan. Getting maintenance done in order to keep everything working properly is going to save you a lot of time and hassles with expensive repairs or replacements. The sooner you do this, the more likely it is that your boiler will be working properly for years to come.

Perform a general check up on your property

Getting everything checked on your property is going to be extremely important before the winter. This is the season when most property damage occurs and it usually happens due to lack of maintenance.

At Always Plumbing and Heating LTD, we can handle the maintenance for your furnace, boiler, and pipes as well as any other issues that may need to be checked before or after winter hits your area.

If you need this done as soon as possible, you can give us a call at 780-489-8118 and we will make sure that your home is ready to face the cold winter weather!

Winter Boiler Maintenance

It’s winter in Edmonton officially making it your boiler’s busiest time of the year. Boilers offer many heating advantages. They are energy efficient, they can last up to 25 years, and they heat the house more evenly (than a traditional furnace). The downside to having a boiler is that they can be very costly to replace. The good news is that, with proper maintenance, a boiler can last up to twice as long as other heating systems. This winter, use these winter boiler maintenance tips to increase your boiler’s efficiency and extend its life.

Check and clean boiler filters monthly.

Boiler air filters should be free of anything that can block the heat. Make sure no dirt or dust has built up in the filter, causing the system to overwork and become inefficient.

Each month, check for a blue flame.

If your boiler has a yellow flame, or no flame, it indicates a possible problem. Call a professional immediately to avoid losing heat or bigger boiler problems.

Insulate your pipes.

Insulating your pipes will not only prevent them from freezing, but it will reduce the risk of your boiler’s condensate pipes freezing as well. Once your boiler’s condensate pipes have frozen they can be difficult to thaw and lead to boilers breaking down.

Learn how your boiler works.

Become familiar with your boiler’s owner’s manual. Knowing how it works will help you spot the warning signs of a problem. Understanding a brief history of boilers and how they work can also be of value.

Regularly check for cracks, holes, or other signs of water leaks.

If you notice any signs of leaks or water coming from your boiler, contact a professional to have it repaired immediately.

Check the pressure gauge.

Consult the owner’s manual for the proper pressure gauge and check when your boiler is at operating temperature. If the pressure is too high, turn off the boiler and contact a professional immediately. Too much internal pressure can cause the boiler to rupture or explode.

Having your boiler out of operation in the winter in Edmonton is not an option. If you suspect your boiler is not working properly, always call a professional for a diagnosis first. At Always Plumbing & Heating, we provide affordable maintenance and repair services to help extend the lifespan of your boiler. Call us at 780-489-8118 (Edmonton) or 587-601-1253 (Fort McMurray) to schedule an appointment today!

Reasons to Schedule Heater Maintenance in Your Edmonton Home

Another Edmonton winter is on the horizon, which means that it’s time for maintenance on your heating unit. The NRC (Natural Resources Canada) reports that 63% of the energy used in the average Canadian home is from space heating. This staggering number suggests that many home heating systems are not running at maximum efficiency. If you have a heating unit in your home and use multiple space heaters to keep every room comfortable, you should reassess your heating system.

While there could be several different reasons for inefficiency, including old age or an improperly sized unit, the most common reason is poor maintenance. Do you have an annual maintenance plan for your HVAC system? If you haven’t had a tune-up on your heating unit in over a year and need space heaters to keep your family comfortable then you are wasting both energy and money. Every year we remind our Edmonton neighbors about the benefits of annual heater maintenance. Here are the three main reasons why every home owner needs to schedule a yearly fall tune-up:

Improved Energy Efficiency

This reason should be even more compelling to Canadians as the space heater usage in homes is staggering. Annual maintenance on your furnace or boiler will ensure that it runs at maximum efficiency. When the system is dirty or has a part (or parts) that need to be fixed or replaced, the unit has to work harder to produce the amount of heat required for comfort. This means that it is using more energy to do its job effectively. But some units get past the point of even properly heating a home – which often means the homeowner buys space heaters to help boost the warmth. This starts a vicious cycle, which can become very expensive and very wasteful. If your heating unit is properly sized and functioning properly there should not be a need for multiple space heaters.

Lower Utility Bills

When your heating unit is working as well at it can, it won’t be a drain on your utility bills. You might not be aware of the amount of energy that your home consumes during a harsh Edmonton winter, but when a spike directly impacts your wallet it is hard to overlook. Are you one of the many Canadian homes with multiple space heaters? Have you considered why? The fee for annual heating maintenance is small compared to the cost of using an inefficient unit and additional heaters.

Avoiding Repairs

No one in Edmonton wants their heating unit to break down in the middle of winter. Regular maintenance can help prevent a breakdown – and time spent without heat. A fall tune-up can help catch minor problems before they are exacerbated by the continuous use in the winter. Repairing or replacing a furnace or boiler can cost thousands of dollars, which is even worse news during the extended holiday season. Avoid repairs altogether with annual scheduled maintenance from a licensed technician. Get your system running at peak condition and free yourself from energy-draining space heaters.

The licensed technicians at Always Plumbing & Heating are experts at heating maintenance. Let them help you keep your system running smoothly so you don’t have to resort to additional heating solutions. Save energy, money and keep expensive repairs to a minimum with a comprehensive tune-up for your heating unit. Be proactive and ensure your family’s health and comfort this winter with professional heating maintenance from Always Plumbing & Heating.

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Fall DIY Maintenance

Tag: boiler maintenance