When it comes to your furnace, an ounce of prevention can go a long way towards preserving the life and health of your unit. As winter weather settles in, you’ll want to be sure that your heating system will keep your family warm and comfortable. To ensure this, you should schedule regular furnace maintenance before each winter season. Fall is a great time of year to have your furnace looked at because you will still have time to correct any issues before it gets cold.
Like a tune-up on your car, preventative maintenance is the best way to ensure that your furnace is in good working order. As the weather turns colder, you can prevent high heating bills and costly emergency services. Schedule your fall furnace maintenance before the cold sets in. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of routine maintenance.
Lower Heating Bills
Depending on where you live, seasonal changes will demand different things from your HVAC unit. Your energy bills will typically fluctuate based on your heating or cooling needs. Regular maintenance on your cooling and heating system, however, can help to lower your energy costs. Throughout normal use, wear and tear, loose connections with wiring, worn belts, and dirt and dust buildup can all become problems. Many of these issues can force the furnace to work harder and impact the unit’s energy efficiency. When a furnace has to expend more energy to heat your home, it can significantly impact your energy bills.
During your annual maintenance appointment, the HVAC technician will thoroughly check the unit and perform a tune-up to address many common issues. They will usually oil the bearings, tighten belts and connections, clean the unit and its compartments, and change the furnace filter. Scheduling fall furnace maintenance will help to address the many issues that cause your unit to be inefficient. A furnace tune-up will help you maximize the system’s efficiency to deliver warm air and lower heating bills.
Fewer Problems
When a furnace breaks down, homeowners can be on the hook for pretty costly repairs. Regular furnace maintenance, however, can help to catch potential problems before they become larger issues. Typically, many small problems won’t stop a furnace from operating, so the issue can go unnoticed. As the furnace continues to operate with a minor malfunction, the problem can worsen and eventually cause the system to break down.
When you have your fall HVAC maintenance done, the technician will inspect the entire system and identify minor issues. The will ensure that small problems don’t become larger ones later in the winter. Additionally, catching and correcting smaller problems could improve the furnace’s performance for added comfort in your home.
Extended Furnace Life
Most experts agree that your furnace should last around 20 years. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your unit. Tune-ups can take care of minor problems such as small leaks. If left unresolved, these problems could lead to bigger issues that will take a toll on your unit’s health and service life. Additionally, routine maintenance will ensure that your furnace is running in good working order. An efficient furnace that runs smoothly will last longer.
A new furnace can be a costly expenditure. If you fail to get annual maintenance done, your system might continue to run, however, it will begin to break down over time. Without proper seasonal maintenance, small issues could impact the unit’s operation and lead to a need for premature replacement.
Early fall is the best time to schedule your furnace maintenance. After sitting dormant all summer long, your furnace might need some care and attention to bring it back into service. Regular maintenance will ensure that your unit stays free of many issues that wear the system down and could leave you out in the cold, literally.
