Don’t delay those furnace tuneups
Call a local HVAC pro for furnace servicing at least once per year.
Furnace inspections cost $50 to $200, and cleanings cost $60 to $400.
Regular tuneups can add five to 10 years to the life span of a furnace.
With the long list of things we need to maintain in our homes, it’s all too easy to forget furnace servicing. When winter rolls around and the temperature takes a dip for the first time, you might remember that you completely forgot to service your furnace. Furnaces need regular tuneups to keep the warm air pumping, even on the coldest nights. Here’s how often to service a furnace to keep your home toasty all winter long, year after year.
You’ll need to hire a local furnace maintenance pro to service the furnace at least once per year, often in the fall before you need to switch on the heat for the first time. If you live in a colder climate and have to use your furnace from fall to late spring, we recommend having an inspection in the fall and again in the spring.
Just like any other appliance, furnaces require regular maintenance in order to operate as efficiently as possible. Here are some of the major benefits of servicing a furnace every year.
One of the biggest benefits of keeping up with an annual furnace service schedule is that you’ll save money on energy bills and repairs. Regular tuneups help the furnace operate more efficiently, which not only lowers the energy needed to power the furnace but also reduces wear and tear on the furnace parts. Plus, a pro can catch problems early on, saving you money on bigger and more expensive repairs.
There’s nothing worse than walking from a warm living room to a chilly bedroom, but cold spots won’t be an issue if you keep up with regular furnace maintenance. Swapping out the filters regularly and cleaning the furnace can help prevent clogs and wear and tear that lead to uneven heating.
A faulty furnace isn’t just an inconvenience. It can present increased risks for fire and carbon monoxide leaks. From overheating to broken parts, a furnace becomes less safe when it’s not serviced regularly. When you schedule an annual furnace service, don’t forget to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors again.
Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home, in central locations, and outside bedrooms. Check all of your carbon monoxide detectors every month, and replace the batteries on a set schedule according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Putting furnace maintenance on the back burner means you’ll shorten the life span of the furnace. By contrast, annual tuneups, even when the furnace seems to be working just fine, will keep your furnace running smoothly for as long as possible, so you won’t have to shell out for the cost of furnace replacement so soon.
Now that you know the importance of scheduling regular furnace servicing, you may be wondering what a furnace service includes. There are several tasks a pro will complete when servicing your furnace, but there are also maintenance chores you should add to your own to-do list to keep your furnace running smoothly.
When a pro comes to service your furnace, they will often perform the following tasks:
Check for duct leaks
Lubricate moving parts
Inspect the fuel source
Inspect and clean the burner
Inspect and clean the pilot light
Adjust the gas valve as needed
Check the condensate line for clogs
Inspect and clean the heat exchanger
Inspect and optimize the thermostat settings
Inspect all electrical wiring to the thermostat and furnace
Check the temperature from return air ducts and heating ducts
While you should leave in-depth furnace tuneups to a pro, there are some furnace maintenance tasks you can—and should—do yourself, including:
Changing furnace filters every one to three months
Cleaning air vent covers at least two times per year
Evaluating the thermostat settings every few months
Adding caulk or weather stripping to drafty doors and windows
Testing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors monthly
Adjusting dampers on HVAC ducts when switching from heating to cooling
A furnace inspection costs $50 to $200, or you can pay $60 to $400 for the cost of furnace cleaning. Both services are important to the health of your furnace. During an inspection, a pro will check all the parts of your furnace and may do some light cleaning. During a furnace cleaning, a pro will more thoroughly clean the furnace, including the burner, heat exchanger, and blower motor.
If you don’t service your furnace, you’re going to spend more money on energy bills and repairs, plus you’ll have to budget for a furnace replacement several years sooner than if you had kept up with maintenance. Even running a furnace without a filter can damage the unit. Poorly maintained furnaces have a higher risk of electrical shocks, fires, and carbon monoxide leaks as the internal parts wear down from the lack of service.
The service life of a furnace is 15 to 20 years if you keep up with regular maintenance. If you don’t keep up with maintenance, though, you may barely get 10 years of service out of your furnace. Changing air filters every few months and scheduling annual furnace inspections and cleanings can add five to 10 years of life to your furnace.
