Maintenance
Owning, or even sometimes renting, a home in Seattle, WA, requires general maintenance to keep your investment in working order. It’s really all about being prepared. Per Benjamin Franklin, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Maintaining your home’s systems and appliances wards off emergency situations and costly repairs while extending your equipment’s life. Take the time and money to perform general maintenance on a regular basis. Many of the maintenance services require the knowledge, skills, and tools of a professional. During the maintenance or service call, our technician will make any necessary repairs and/or alert you of a possible situation. Call Ballard Natural Gas to assist you in maintaining any of the following or to answer any questions you may have:
Furnace Maintenance
For furnaces and boilers, an annual service tune-up and cleaning is recommended, usually performed in the fall. The purpose is to keep your system running at top efficiency throughout the season, i.e., to keep you having heat when you need it. Our technician will check and clean all the connections, controls, sensors, drains, ignitor, ducts, pipes, burners, valves, motors, thermostat(s), and smoke/carbon-monoxide detectors, and instruct you on anything you could do between our service visits. As a rule of thumb, furnace filters need to be changed every three months or as needed, which is something you can do yourself with the correct filters.
Air Conditioner Maintenance
For air conditioners, an annual service tune-up and cleaning is recommended, usually performed in the spring. Our professional technician will check and clean the connections, coils, blower components, lines, refrigerant, drain, fuses, and thermostat(s), as well as lubricate all working parts. Maintenance you can do yourself between service visits is to remove any yard debris or vegetation from the top and sides of your outdoor air conditioner unit, as well as to keep it covered with an air conditioner cover or tarp in the winter.
Heat Pump Maintenance
For heat pumps, an annual service tune-up and cleaning is recommended, usually performed in the fall, same as furnaces and boilers. Our professional technician will check and clean ducts, filters, blower, indoor coil, ducts, refrigerant, electric terminals, connections, motors, and belts, as well as lubricate all working parts. Be sure to change or clean the filter every three months or as needed. You can also clean the outdoor coils whenever they seem dirty, and keep yard debris and vegetation away from the unit..
Air-Filtration System Maintenance
For air-filtration systems, regular maintenance is something you can perform on your own. Maintenance on an air-filtration system usually just means changing or cleaning the filter every three to nine months. But you should check with the manufacturer’s specific recommendations. Changing or cleaning your filter on a regular basis will ensure the best filtration for your home as well as extend the life of the system. If you need any assistance or would like to install an air-filtration system, feel free to talk with one of our professionals at Ballard Natural Gas.
General Plumbing Maintenance
For the plumbing in your home, an annual plumbing inspection is recommended. Our professional plumber will check the plumbing and equipment in your home, letting you know if there’s anything to repair or replace, and to alert you about possible impending issues. A plumbing inspection typically will include the inspection of your water heater, water softener, inside/outside faucets, sinks, pipes, garbage disposal, toilets, sump pump and its discharge line (backup pump, if you have one), well tank or city water supply and meter, shut-off valves, and waste stacks. This inspection will usually ward off any plumbing emergencies during the year by giving you an accurate assessment of the plumbing’s condition in your home.
Water Heater Maintenance
For water heaters, an annual inspection and service is recommended, usually included in your annual plumbing inspection (any required service would be separate). Either have one of our professional plumbers perform the required maintenance, especially if you’re uncomfortable doing it yourself, or do it yourself. To keep your water heater running efficiently, you want to check the pressure valve, check the anode rod, flush the tank (due to sediment buildup), adjust the temperature (if needed), and insulate the pipes and tank (if needed). Once again, one of our professional plumbers can easily do this service for you to help in extending the life of your water heater.
Water Softener Maintenance
For water softeners, an annual inspection is recommended, usually included in your annual plumbing inspection (any required service would be separate). Typically, water softeners require minimal maintenance; however, if you notice a change in your water quality, your softener could require service sooner. Most water softeners just require the addition of the right kind of salt as maintenance, usually on a quarterly basis, by you or a professional. If you notice a change in your water, ask one of our plumbers to inspect your unit and take a water sample.
Sump Pump Maintenance
For sump pumps, an annual inspection is recommended (start of spring is best), usually included in your annual plumbing inspection. Our professional plumber will check the sump pump pit for debris that could interfere with its operation. The plumber will also unplug the pump and take a look at its intake, impeller, and air bleed or weep hole. The float valve will be checked by dumping about five gallons of water into the pit. If you’re in an especially flood-prone area of Seattle, WA, our plumber may recommend a backup sump pump, which can save your home from flooding during power outages.
At Ballard Natural Gas, we’re here to assist you in maintaining your home’s systems or to answer any of your questions about maintenance. Keeping your equipment in good working order allows you peace of mind to know they’ll be there when you need them. It also makes good financial sense to keep equipment serviced to help extend their life spans. Here in Seattle, WA, call us at 206-784-8101 to make an appointment now.
Need Maintenance Service?
Contact the experts at Ballard Natural Gas.
Call us at 206-784-8101!
Gas Fireplace Maintenance in Shoreline, WA 98177
Gas Fireplace Maintenance in Capitol Hill, WA 98112
“Justin, as always, is friendly, quite affable, and provides great service. We are always happy to have him work here.”
– Chip P.
Gas Furnace Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98102
“Justin did the maintenance on my furnace and AC. He did everything quickly, answered all my questions, and was courteous and professional the whole time. Great experience.”
– Nemanja M.
Gas Fireplace Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98126
“Wonderful, Justin was super helpful and friendly”
– Colin D.
Gas Furnace Maintenance in Capitol Hill, WA 98102
“Justin was here today and did an awesome job of tuning up my gas furnace and 2 gas fireplaces!”
– Catherine S.
Heat Pump Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98109
“Justin, our technician, was professional, knowledgeable and very efficient in this service visit.”
– Bill H.
Gas Furnace Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98119
“We are big fans of Justin our furnace technician with Ballard Natural Gas. He comes every year to do maintenance on our basement furnace and wall furnace. He is knowledgeable, easy to work with, thoughtful, and genuinely nice. We highly recommend Justin and Ballard Natural Gas.”
– kr s.
Gas Fireplace Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98119
“Justin did a great job!!!”
– Kyle G.
Gas Furnace Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98115
“Our service professional, Justin, is always friendly and efficient. He always lets us know exactly what he has done, and let us know what he suggests for keeping our furnace in good working condition.”
– Steve M.
Zone Control System Maintenance in Seattle, WA 98199
“Many thanks to service technician Justin for his maintenance visit on 10/12/22. He came at the front end of the 4 hour appointment window, which is always appreciated, and was friendly, efficient, and communicated clearly about his findings and recommendations.”
– Michael M.
Ballard Natural Gas proudly provides HVAC service to Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, and the surrounding communities. Visit our service area page for more coverage details, call us at 206-784-8101, or request service online today.