Furnace Inspection Checklist

Inspecting a Furnace

Furnace inspections should be carried out at least once every two years and in the fall. Parts of the furnace are prone to wearing out and should be inspected thoroughly to ensure safe and efficient operation in the clients home.

• The first step to inspection is to examine the furnace body itself for any signs of damage or corrosion. Assuming that there is no damage or corrosion you can then move on to inspecting the rest of the furnace.
• Examine the flue pipe for damage and a tight fit.
• The gas line should be in good shape and be free of any leaks. Use a gas detector to check for leaks around all connections on the gas line.
• Next, remove the cover from the furnace and inspect the interior for signs of corrosion.
• Examine all of the wiring and their connections. Replace any wiring that shows heat damage or insulation that is cracking.
• Locate the burners and clean them if need be. They may have a small amount of corrosion on them and that’s acceptable. Heavy corrosion is not.
• If the fan blades are covered in dust be sure to clean them as that can cause an imbalance at operating speed.
• Start up the furnace and observe its operation. Starts and ignition should be smooth and complete. Are the belts or pulleys making noise? If so, adjust and lubricate htem as per operator’s manual or replace parts if need be.
• Using a CO probe, examine both the heat exchanger and the flue pipe. When examining he heat exchanger, there should be no CO being registered on the meter. If there is, the heat exchanger is cracked. The levels of CO in the flue gasses is 25-50 ppm.
• Examine all safety controls and ensure proper operation and check and calibrate the thermostat..
• To help diagnose any potential issue, measure the voltage and amp draw.
• Lastly, be sure to replace the air filter if it is needed and that the owner understands filter placement scheduling.

With regular maintenance a furnace will provide many years of efficient, worry-free operation. Be sure to follow the Amber Air Conditioning Inc. blog to learn how to properly maintain your HVAC equipment.