safety inspection and tune-up for a residential gas furnace

[ra533yahoo]

I plan to hire a technician to have a safety inspection and tune-up for my residential gas furnace.

Do you know:
1. how they charge, for example, separately charge for diagnostic and repair?
2. how can I know the technician is certified to do this job?
3. after finishing, will they give me a document about how to inspect and tune-up?
Thank you very much!

[George2]

I plan to hire a technician to have a safety inspection and tune-up for my residential gas furnace.

Do you know:
1. how they charge, for example, separately charge for diagnostic and repair?
2. how can I know the technician is certified to do this job?
3. after finishing, will they give me a document about how to inspect and tune-up?
Thank you very much!

Most companies now have a flat rate to get to the home and look things over.

Then, if anything needs to be done, it's a flat rate for that. It's up to you if you want it done or not.

But beware, some people will try to sell you a furnace saying yours is about ready to go or some such thing.

They should give you a service ticket with the model, serial number, what they did and the date of the service for your files.

[johnsonj]

Everyone feel free to add to this list. But I give the following when I do an inspection:
AC
- Sub and Super cooling and WHAT is the manufacturers recommendation
- High & Low PSI
- indoor return temp & hum
- outdoor temp & hum (these 3 numbers ensure the tech calculated #1)
- CFM
- that those damn service value caps have the rubber seal <grrr>
- temp post evaporator
- condenser size & coil size
- check 24v lines for twist caps
- check outside supply line for foam (puppies love it)

Heating
- visual condition of heat exchanger
- test flame sensor
- test ignition
- if you have electric verify all the coils are not broken

[mjohnson2981]

Everyone feel free to add to this list. But I give the following when I do an inspection:
AC
- Sub and Super cooling and WHAT is the manufacturers recommendation
- High & Low PSI
- indoor return temp & hum
- outdoor temp & hum (these 3 numbers ensure the tech calculated #1)
- CFM
- that those damn service value caps have the rubber seal <grrr>
- temp post evaporator
- condenser size & coil size
- check 24v lines for twist caps
- check outside supply line for foam (puppies love it)

Heating
- visual condition of heat exchanger
- test flame sensor
- test ignition
- if you have electric verify all the coils are not broken

Cooling: I also check Capacitor visually and with meter, contacts, electrical connections, compressor inrush and amp draw, air filter

Heating: Temp rise, air filter

[ra533yahoo]

Thank you for answering my questions very much, all of you are very kind and professional.

In order to find such professional technician as you, may I ask:

shall I ask the service company to show me the technician's certificate? if so, what is the name of that certificate?
or,
shall I ask the service company to show me their company's license related with furnace tune-up? if so, what is the name of that license?

Thank you for help very much!!

[GRANTBRYAN]

I always check amp draw on blower motor, condenser fan and compressor. I get voltage readings at them. Check voltage drop across contactor. Just a little that I like to check while I'm there.

[fixitguy]

many states don't have technician licenses !!
The company will, but EVERY Tech will have a freon certificate from the EPA
if they work with freon..

[hearthman]

This is sounding more and more like a lawyer fishing...

[youngtech]

Thank you for answering my questions very much, all of you are very kind and professional.

In order to find such professional technician as you, may I ask:

shall I ask the service company to show me the technician's certificate? if so, what is the name of that certificate?
or,
shall I ask the service company to show me their company's license related with furnace tune-up? if so, what is the name of that license?

Thank you for help very much!!

NATE is the most common, also ICE both give certs.