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Though Australia is generally regarded as a sunny country, with hours of sunlight ranging from over 2000 hours to over 3500 hours annually, it can also get really cold. Sadly, during the cold winter months, one cannot remember the sunny days and get warm. The need for proper heating becomes obvious during this time.
According to official data, heating and cooling accounts for an average of 40% of the average household’s energy consumption. You can read about it here. This amount of consumption shows just how important climate control is to the average home.
Given that many homes still rely on gas heaters for the heating needs, we will be focusing on this type of heating system. Our focus will be on the need for regular maintenance. We will look at the benefits and some common issues that you should be on the lookout for.
Let’s start by looking at some of the common issues that your device may have.
The Benefits of Regular Maintenance for Your Gas Heater
There are a number of benefits that you’ll derive from having your gas heater maintained regularly. If you’re wondering how regular this should be, the Australian government recommends that you have your gas heater professionally serviced at least once in two years. You can read about it here: https://www.esv.vic.gov.au/.
This should be done whether or not you think there’s an issue with your heater. It’s a preventive measure. Of course, you should immediately call a repair service if you notice any issues with your heater even if you just recently had it serviced.
The following are some benefits that you can expect from maintaining your gas heater regularly:
Increased Efficiency
A device that is properly and regularly maintained will serve better and for much longer. By identifying issues before they escalate and possibly lead to a complete breakdown of your heater, you ensure that you always have a perfectly working device at all times.
Cost Saving
Like they say, “a stitch in time saves nine” and this is true in this case. Mechanical devices like these can continue to work even when they have some issues. If you ignore these signs, they will keep getting worse until the entire thing packs up or begins to function far below its capacity.
When this happens, you will be forced to spend a lot more fixing the unit than you would have had to spend had you properly maintained it. In fact, it may become so far gone that you will have no other choice than to completely replace it, spending far more than you would have on routine maintenance.
Reduced Operational Cost
A unit that is not functioning optimally will likely consume more gas in its operation. This of course will increase your energy bills. With a good maintenance culture, your device will function optimally, delivering excellent service and reducing your general operational cost.
Eliminating the Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
A CO leak is a very dangerous situation. Because the gas is odorless and colorless, you won’t notice it. If it builds up, it can lead to serious problems, including death. Proper maintenance of your heating unit ensures that any leaks are quickly identified and fixed. Thus, any risk of CO poisoning is drastically reduced.
Prevention of Accidents and Fire Hazards
One of the dangers of using a gas heater is fire outbreak. The unit is designed to channel the flammable materials safely through the different parts. However, leaks could occur, reducing the safety of the device and even resulting in a fire outbreak. This can be prevented by having your device checked by professionals regularly.
Common Gas Heater Problems
There are common problems that any gas heater may likely have. These will range from simple to serious. We’ll quickly look at a few of them here.
Heater Keeps Turning Off
For some devices, it may be turning on and off. The reason for this is more often than not, a low airflow. To improve the airflow, check for a dirty or blocked filter, a blocked exhaust or even a bad thermostat.
Increased Noise
An increased operational noise is usually a sign that all is not right with your heating unit. Changing the filter or oiling the motors may help with this.
Pilot Light Going Off or Won’t Light
This can be caused by a blocked gas supply line and clearing the blockage, after putting off the gas supply, may be the solution. It could also be caused by a faulty thermocouple, cutting off gas supply to the pilot light.
Faulty Thermostat
A Faulty Thermostat can cause any number of problems with your heater. Some of these include, low heating, excess heating, frequently turning on and off and more. This is one of the first things a repair service will check for when servicing the unit.
While there are a number of other faults that your device may have, these are these are the most common ones. Some of them can easily be fixed while others may require professional help. Working with a professional will always be your best bet.
Choosing the Right Repair Service to Work with
It’s one thing to decide to maintain your heater regularly but another thing to find the right service to handle it. There are simple ways to go about this process and we’ll discuss them briefly as we conclude.
Ask for Referrals
This is probably the most effective way of finding an excellent service provider. If, for example, your friends or family members had similar issues and worked had their issues resolve satisfactorily by a company known as Hero Plumbing, chances are that they will be quick to recommend them to you.
In the same vein, if they worked with some that left a bad taste in their mouth, they will also be quick to warn you off them.
Search Online
If you don’t have any luck with referrals, then you can search online. It’s best to carry out a local search. For example, if you live in Sydney, search for “gas heater repair services in Sydney” or the specific city you live in. This will ensure you don’t recommendations of services located in Canada or some other distant location.
Check Reviews
Before choosing any company, be sure to carry out some investigation. Read reviews and feedback from their past clients. Check independent reviews sites to be sure that you’re not reading reviews written by paid writers. From these reviews, you can shortlist some candidates for final review.
Interview and Get Quotes
Talk to the companies you’ve shortlisted to feel them out. You can also ask for operational procedures, charges and other services related issues. With these, you should be able to settle on a provider that you can entrust your work to.
Conclusion
We’ve taken some time to discuss the maintenance of your gas heater. You’ve seen some of the common problems it may have and the benefits of maintaining them regularly. We’ve also discussed how to find repair service that you can trust with your unit. It’s now time for you to act on the information you’ve received.
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