With most homes across the United States using furnaces to stay warm during the winter months, it’s highly likely that you have one in your home. One of the best things you want to do to ensure that your furnace stays in tip-top condition is to have professional maintenance service. We’re going to go over what this service entails and how often you should be getting it below.
Furnace Tune-up vs. Homeowner Maintenance
Before we dive into what professional tune-up service includes, it’s important to take a moment and discuss the type of maintenance that your system needs. There are a couple of maintenance tasks you’re generally responsible for on your own: changing out the air filter and ensuring that all your air vents are free from any obstructions. On the other hand, you should have your system professionally tuned up once a year, as it provides a more in-depth maintenance routine.
What’s Involved in Furnace Tune-up Services?
During professional maintenance service, our technician will inspect your entire system, clean it, and ensure that each component is working as it should be. This service includes lubricating motor bearings and other moving parts inside your system. They’ll check and adjust your fan belt tension to ensure it’s correct. All the electrical connections will be tightened, and their voltage will be checked to ensure it’s safe.
The heat exchanger will undergo a thorough visual inspection to ensure there aren’t toxic cracks. Your entire exhaust system will be examined to verify that all the exhaust byproducts are being adequately vented to the outdoors. We’ll test your ignition system and clean your burner to ensure that it’s working appropriately. Additionally, we’ll calibrate your thermostat and test the carbon monoxide level to ensure that your furnace is working safely.
The Importance of Professional Maintenance Service
Getting professional maintenance service for your furnace every fall is a necessity. This service ensures that your system is working at peak efficiency so you don’t waste money on excess energy. Plus, systems that don’t receive regular maintenance don’t last as long as systems that do.
Tune-ups go a long way in helping to alert you of any potential problems your system may have. It’s natural for parts to wear out over time; that’s just how appliances work. If you catch that wear and tear early, though, you drastically reduce your risk of experiencing an unexpected breakdown in the future.
Another crucial reason to invest in this service is to ensure that your furnace’s exhaust system is working correctly. All furnaces that burn natural gas, heating oil, or propane will emit harmful exhaust fumes. These fumes are simply the by-product of the combustion process. It’s imperative that these fumes be vented directly to the outdoors for everyone’s safety. If your system develops cracking in the heat exchanger or doesn’t ignite correctly, it can allow harmful exhaust fumes to back up into your home. Professional maintenance service can catch issues like that early on to prevent any major health hazards.
The Various Benefits of Furnace Maintenance Service
Apart from ensuring that your furnace is working appropriately, professional maintenance service can benefit you in many other ways. Most homeowners don’t realize that the purchase agreement for their furnace requires them to get annual maintenance service. If you skip getting this service, you can end up avoiding the warranty on your heating system. This situation could leave you paying for future repair bills yourself.
Another benefit of getting regular maintenance is that you’re constantly being updated on the overall state of your furnace. You’ll be informed of how much longer your system is likely to last you. This can allow you to financially prepare for the purchase of a new system, as a new furnace is a costly investment for most homeowners. This can go a long way in easing your worries about dealing with an unexpected furnace replacement during the wintertime.
Reliable Furnace Maintenance Service
My Guy Heating and Air, LLC offers reliable furnace maintenance service to Firestone, CO and the surrounding communities. Our technicians will be more than happy to assist with all your heating, air conditioning, ductless HVAC, and indoor air quality needs. Contact us today, and we’ll schedule an appointment for your system.