Reasons to Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
As the temperature falls and you find yourself reaching for the thermostat more and more, you should also reach for your phone to schedule annual furnace maintenance. Making sure your furnace runs optimally this winter increases your comfort, safety and peace of mind all season long.
Here’s a little more about what this crucial annual task entails and why you shouldn’t neglect it.
What Does Furnace Maintenance Involve?
A maintenance visit is a surefire way to get your heating system in good shape. Although the specific tasks depend on the brand and age of your system, you can usually expect your technician to perform the following:
- Examine and clean the burner: In time, dirt and debris can block the burner, affecting its performance. Cleaning it restores ideal heat transfer.
- Test the gas valves: Ensuring these valves are totally open and working properly is crucial for safe furnace operation.
- Check the heat exchanger: A cracked heat exchanger can result in carbon monoxide leaks, so it’s important to make sure no cracks are present.
- Review and tighten electrical components: Loose connections can make your system unsafe and inefficient. The good thing is, tightening them is a fast and simple task.
- Clean the blower: A grungy blower affects your furnace’s ability to circulate warm air around your home. Cleaning and balancing the fan assures the best airflow.
- Swap out the air filter: Clean air filters allow proper airflow throughout your system, which is why you should always replace a dirty air filter in your furnace. Installing a clean, new air filter also increases indoor air quality if you install an efficient enough filtration system.
Why It’s Helpful to Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance
If your furnace seems to be running fine, is it still beneficial to set up a maintenance visit? Here are some of the ways furnace maintenance is beneficial:
- Decrease mid-season malfunctions: Few things are more discouraging than waking up on a freezing winter morning to discover your furnace has stopped working. Sudden breakdowns are stressful and can leave you scrambling to find a quick fix. Annual furnace maintenance lowers the risk of unexpected issues because your service tech looks over every part of your system, catching minor issues before they escalate into costly repairs.
- Reduced repair costs: It’s a simple equation—the quicker you catch a problem, the less expensive it is to fix. By investing in budget-friendly, scheduled maintenance visits, you can avoid costly, inconvenient repairs, keeping more money in your pocket.
- Lengthen your furnace’s life expectancy: Like a well-maintained car, a furnace that receives annual tune-ups will probably last longer than an unattended heating system. Annual maintenance helps you avoid the expense of untimely furnace replacement by adding years to your system’s life span.
- Increase energy efficiency: A well-maintained heating system works smoothly and efficiently. When all the components are clean and in good working order, your system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your residence cozy. This reduces your energy bills and lessens your environmental impact.
- Enhance indoor air quality: Polluted indoor air aggravates allergies and respiratory issues. The air filter in your furnace traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles to reduce these conditions. During a maintenance visit, the technician will change the air filter at your request, ensuring cleaner air circulates through your home.
- Increases safety: A failing furnace is not only inefficient, it also could be dangerous. Cracked heat exchangers or defective gas valves can produce harmful carbon monoxide leaks. Knowing your system has been inspected for any possible safety issues should give you a sense of comfort this winter.
When Should You Set up Your Maintenance Visit?
To experience the most benefits, it’s best to schedule annual furnace maintenance in the fall before winter’s chill gets to your area. This is a way to make sure any issues are attended to before you have to call heavily on your heating system.
Do-It-Yourself Furnace Maintenance Between Tune-Ups
While professional maintenance is essential, you can perform several tasks yourself to keep your furnace running smoothly between visits:
- Switch out the air filter every 30 to 90 days to increase airflow.
- Keep all return and supply registers open and unobstructed for system balance.
- Vacuum the outside of the furnace with the brush attachment to make sure it stays clean.
Choose Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for Furnace Maintenance in Fort Lauderdale
If it’s time for your next furnace maintenance appointment, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is an HVAC company you can count on. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, long-lasting answers to all your heating and cooling dilemmas. We’re proud to deliver solutions to our customers and focus on making a meaningful difference in your life and sense of comfort. We even provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee to put your mind at ease. To set your heating system up for success this winter, call 954-736-4314 today to schedule furnace maintenance with Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.