What a Fall HeatingTune-Up Includes

When the Las Vegas heat finally breaks in the fall, the valley cools down. Average lows drop, and the National Weather Service notes that about 10 nights a year fall to freezing at Harry Reid International Airport. You rely on your gas furnace or heat pump to keep your home warm during those cold winter nights. A visit before the first cold night means any problem shows up before you need the heat. ENERGY STAR recommends having your heating system checked in the fall before the cold weather sets in. A proper maintenance visit covers specific checks and tests to catch small issues early. Understanding what a fall heating tune-up includes helps you see the value of seasonal maintenance.

Inspecting Your Gas Furnace

Heat pumps and gas furnaces both do real work in valley winters. For a gas furnace, the fall visit includes the following:

• Inspecting the burners and the ignition system.
• Cleaning the flame sensor.
• Visually inspecting the heat exchanger where it can be seen.
• Testing the safety limits and checking the flue and venting.

We also evaluate the blower motor and check your air filter. We will replace the filter if you have a new one on hand. Finally, the technician tests the thermostat’s heating cycle. You receive a written report noting anything worth watching.

Maintaining Your Heat Pump

If your Las Vegas home uses a heat pump instead of a gas furnace, the tune-up process looks a bit different. Heat pumps move heat from the outside air into your home, even when the weather is cold. Because they do not burn gas, they do not need flue or heat exchanger inspections. Instead, the technician performs heating-mode and defrost checks. The defrost cycle is vital because it prevents ice from building up on the outdoor coil during near-freezing nights.

We evaluate the blower and airflow, check the filter, and test the thermostat heating cycle. Just like a gas furnace visit, you receive a written report of the system condition. A heat pump works hard all year, providing both summer cooling and winter heating, so fall maintenance prepares it for the shift in seasons.

Safety and System Lifespan

For gas furnaces, safety is a primary concern. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends having fuel-burning heating equipment inspected every year. You should also have carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is odorless, and symptoms can resemble the flu. If you ever smell gas in your home, leave right away. From a safe place outside, call 911 and Southwest Gas. Do not touch light switches, thermostats or anything that could spark.

Gas furnaces commonly last about 15 to 20 years and heat pumps about 10 to 15 (Carrier; ENERGY STAR).

Before the Technician Arrives

Scheduled visits come in an arrival window, Monday to Saturday, with a call 30 minutes before the technician arrives. Clear stored boxes away from the furnace in the garage or closet. Keep a clean filter on hand so the technician can put it in. Test the carbon monoxide alarms on every level, which the CPSC advises having on every floor. Technicians wear shoe covers, use drop cloths and clean the work area before they leave.

Joining the Kestrel Comfort Club

Keeping up with seasonal maintenance is easier when it is scheduled for you. Kestrel Heating & Air offers the Kestrel Comfort Club to Las Vegas homeowners. This maintenance plan includes two visits a year. You receive a cooling tune-up in the spring and a heating tune-up in the fall. Members also get priority scheduling when they call for repairs.