Troubleshooting Your Furnace

Posted on: 14 August 2020

As summer draws to a close, it's time to start preparing your properties for the winter months that lie ahead. While central AC is not a feature in all buildings, nearly all states require landlords to provide adequate heating for their tenants. In most areas, this means ensuring that your units can maintain a set temperature level through certain times of the day and months of the year.

Waiting for your tenants to complain about a problem is rarely the best or most cost-effective solution to meeting these requirements. Proper long-term maintenance will save you money by reducing the need for frequent service calls. These three tips will help you to prepare your properties before issues arise in the dead of winter.

1. Schedule Annual Inspections

Heating a multi-unit residential property can strain even a well-designed and properly sized HVAC system. While you may be able to skip an annual inspection or two at home, you should never let your rental properties suffer the same fate. An examination by a trained HVAC professional will not only ensure that your system is operating correctly but also that there are no hidden safety issues.

Routine inspections do more than keep your system running smoothly, however. A poorly maintained HVAC system runs less efficiently, resulting in higher overall energy costs. These inefficiencies may be pricey for detached single-family homes, but they can be devastating for large rental properties. Your technician will evaluate your system and provide a run-down of potential efficiency issues.

2. Review Documented Complaints

Documenting tenant complaints about your heating system can be surprisingly helpful. Unusual noises or hot or cold areas may be signs of chronic problems. Depending on the type of heating system your building uses, you may have an underlying issue with your ductwork or plumbing. By logging these problems, you can spot trends before they turn into costly failures.

Late summer is the perfect time to look into any unaddressed complaints from the previous year. Discuss these issues with your HVAC contractor so that they can more quickly and efficiently track down the source of the problems. Dealing with these problems now will help to ensure that your tenants stay warm and happy through the coming winter.

3. Consider Upgrades As-Needed

If your inspection turns up any old or outdated equipment, consider planning for an upgrade. Routinely replacing worn out, inefficient, or damaged HVAC equipment should be a part of your regular maintenance routine. Although you may save a few dollars by leaving old hardware in place, this is rarely a cost-effective strategy over the long-term.

Reach out to a professional to learn more about heating maintenance.