What You Should Know About Home Heating System Maintenance

With the cold weather quickly approaching many people are preparing for the winter.  Whether it is your car, home, or heating system, regular maintenance is the key to preventing problems.  It is important for customers to be informed and proactive when it comes to protecting their homes.

The damage can be detrimental and have a major impact both personally and financially.  

Learn how to protect your home this winter and for years to come:  

Seasonal – Unoccupied Homes

No matter how you heat your home, maintaining your heat to a certain level is critical.  Freeze-ups in an occupied/empty or unoccupied dwelling or home can cause expensive losses.  This is especially important when it comes to second home owners because if you are not around, you will not know the damage being done.  Water from broken pipes can flood a house in a matter of hours causing structural damage to the house and loss of personal property.

Remember that you have a responsibility to protect your home against damage arising from a drop in or loss of heat.  This scenario can result in frozen pipes and water damage.

You should arrange for supervision of your home if you plan to be away from the premise for any length of time.  

If you are a second home owner, or an absentee home owner, take advantage of CES’ Home Key Holder Program where we work with your smart thermostat or alarm company to ensure any emergency situation can be handled with a sense of urgency, regardless of where you are!

It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Fuel Delivery Lines

As our valued customer, we would like to make you aware of a potential problem that could occur with an unprotected fuel oil delivery line.  These unprotected fuel delivery lines are made of copper and if in contact with concrete or below ground, may deteriorate, resulting in a line leak.  In the event of such a leak, oil could be released, causing environmental damage that will require a costly clean up.

To avoid this exposure, both financially and personally, we suggest that you have your fuel delivery lines inspected and replaced with a sleeved line if necessary.

Contact us to assist you with this upgrade. 

Tips For Maintaining Your Home Heating System

Prevent Leaks and Spills 

Whether it is your car, home, or heating system, regular maintenance is the key to preventing problems.

Cleaning up oil leaks from home heating systems can be expensive.  The average cost can range between $20,000 and $50,000, with some cleanups costing significantly more.  Here are ways to save money, help prevent leaks and spills, and protect the environment.

• Annually:
  • Visually inspect tank, piping, and fuel delivery line. If a leak is detected please notify us!
• Have Us:
  
  • Clean the furnace and repair or replace damaged parts.  A well-maintained furnace means lower fuel bills and cleaner emissions.
  • Each fall: inspect the vent pipe to ensure that it is free of obstruction and that an audible signal (whistle) is on the vent.  Oil company personnel listen for the whistle to help avoid overfills.
• When Appropriate:
  • Remove abandoned fill and vent pipes immediately
  • Clearly mark the location of the tank’s fill pipe.
  • Install an oil safety valve or replace the fuel delivery line with one encased in a protective sleeve.  These are inexpensive upgrades.

Remember, the older the heating system the more vulnerability to failure.  Consider upgrading to a modern, fuel-efficient system.

By properly maintaining your seasonal unoccupied homes, fuel delivery lines and home heating systems, you can feel secure that your system will be more efficient, it will save time and money, and prevent environmental issues.  Combined Energy Services can help you abide by these guidelines. Call today to schedule a service with a our experienced technicians!