Your Heater Hasn’t Run Since March
That’s roughly 250 days of sitting idle in Breaux Bridge’s subtropical humidity. By the time you switch to heat mode in November or December, the system has had nearly nine months for dust to settle on burners, moisture to corrode flame sensors, and insects to set up camp in the exhaust vent.
A fall heating tune-up is designed to catch all of that. We go through every component, clean what needs cleaning, test what needs testing, and flag anything that won’t make it through the winter.
Gas Furnace Inspection
Older homes in Breaux Bridge, particularly those along Rees Street and in the neighborhoods near Pont Breaux, often have gas furnaces. Our tune-up for these systems covers:
- Heat exchanger inspection (checking for cracks that could leak carbon monoxide)
- Gas pressure testing at the manifold
- Burner assembly cleaning
- Ignitor condition and resistance check
- Flame sensor cleaning (the number-one cause of “furnace won’t stay lit” calls)
- Safety control testing across all limit and pressure switches
- Flue and exhaust vent inspection
- Carbon monoxide testing at supply registers
That last item, the CO test, is something every gas furnace should have done annually. We measure at the supply vents to confirm combustion gases are staying where they belong.
Heat Pump Inspection
Most Breaux Bridge homes built after the early 1990s use heat pumps. These systems handle our mild winters well, but they need fall attention too.
The reversing valve is the biggest concern. This component directs refrigerant flow and determines whether you get heating or cooling. After running in cooling mode since April, the valve can stick. When it does, switching your thermostat to heat produces cool air instead. We cycle the valve during every tune-up and verify it’s producing warm air at the supply registers.
We also test defrost controls (the system that prevents ice buildup on the outdoor coil during cold weather), check refrigerant charge, inspect the outdoor coil, and test each auxiliary heat strip individually. If one strip has burned out, you’ll have reduced capacity on the coldest nights.
Bayou Teche Humidity and Your Heating System
Breaux Bridge sits right along Bayou Teche, and the moisture in the air here is persistent year-round. That humidity doesn’t take a break just because your furnace is off. It seeps into the cabinet, coats metal surfaces with oxidation, and creates the perfect conditions for corrosion.
The flame sensor takes the worst of it. This small rod sits in the burner flame and tells the control board that gas is actually burning. A thin layer of corrosion makes the sensor unable to detect the flame, and the system shuts the gas valve as a safety precaution. You’ll see the furnace try to start, run for a few seconds, then shut off. Three attempts and it locks out.
We clean the flame sensor during every tune-up. It takes a few minutes and prevents one of the most common winter emergency calls.
When to Call
October is ideal. November still works. December means you’re competing with everyone else who waited. We service Breaux Bridge and the surrounding St. Martin Parish communities regularly and can usually schedule fall tune-ups within a week during the early season.
If you want both heating and cooling maintenance handled automatically each year, our maintenance plans cover both visits.
Reach F & R Air Conditioning at (337) 893-5646 to get your fall tune-up scheduled.