A furnace breakdown in the middle of a cold winter night is the last thing anyone wants. This is one of the main reasons why regular furnace maintenance is essential.
When you’re a homeowner, maintenance is an unavoidable part of keeping your home in good shape, and your furnace is no exception. Regular maintenance ensures your furnace works efficiently, keeps your heating costs low, and improves your air quality, among other things.
Schedule regular maintenance with a professional HVAC technician to keep your furnace running smoothly. Routine check-ups catch small problems early and ensure your home will stay comfortable all winter long.
1. Improved Furnace Efficiency
Neglecting furnace maintenance leads to decreased efficiency. Various factors can contribute to this, but airflow restrictions often go unnoticed without annual inspections. When airflow is compromised, the furnace must work harder to heat your home, reducing its overall efficiency.
Read More: While HVAC pros should perform your yearly inspection, homeowners can perform some maintenance themselves. Learn more in our guide on How to Maintain Your HVAC System.
2. Longer Lifespan
I learned the hard way how skipping yearly furnace maintenance can shorten its lifespan. Replacing my furnace was expensive, that’s why I make it a priority to hire an HVAC technician annually. Without routine maintenance, certain parts of your furnace, or even the furnace as a whole, will need replacement much sooner than you’d like.
3. Fewer Repairs
A benefit of annual maintenance is fewer furnace repairs. During a maintenance visit, your technician will catch any small issues your furnace is experiencing early, so they won’t turn into bigger, more costly repairs down the road. If you perform your regular maintenance, you can expect to see fewer breakdowns and repairs.
4. Better Temperature Control
A poorly maintained furnace won’t be as effective at controlling the temperature of your home. It also means your furnace is more likely to break down, and you won’t have heat when you need it the most. Dirty air filters are usually the main culprit when it comes to inconsistent temperature control.
Read More: Are Smart Thermostats Worth It? Pros and Cons
5. Lower Heating Costs
The harder your furnace has to work, the more it will cost to run. An overworked furnace will lead to expensive and frequent repairs, too. By properly maintaining your furnace, you’ll avoid costly repairs — and possibly a total furnace replacement.
Schedule yearly maintenance with an HVAC technician to help keep your heating bills low.
6. Increased Safety
If you don’t maintain your furnace regularly, you may be missing serious home safety issues. Proper furnace maintenance will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide leaks and electrical issues and increase the safety of your family.
- Carbon Monoxide Leaks: Your furnace produces carbon monoxide as waste, which is usually vented outside through a pipe. If that pipe has a leak, carbon monoxide may enter your home and lead to death.
- Electrical Issues: If left unchecked, faulty wiring, loose connections, and other electrical problems within your furnace can cause house fires. An HVAC pro will spot these problem areas during their yearly inspection.
7. Better Air Quality
Another consequence of skipping furnace maintenance is poor air quality. As part of your normal maintenance visit, the technician will remove all debris, allergens, and buildup that’s accumulated within your furnace. If you don’t get it cleaned, dust particles will blow back into the supply air, clog your air ducts, and enter your home.
Read More:
8. Keeps Your Warranty Valid
Finally, proper furnace maintenance is a good way to keep your warranty valid. Some warranties require regular maintenance, or they become void. Check your warranty to see if this is true for you.
FAQ About Furnace Maintenance
The average cost of HVAC maintenance, including your furnace, is about $110 per year. However, it can range from $85 to $170, depending on the size and power of your HVAC unit.
For the average home, it’s best to change your air filter every three months. However, if you have pets, allergies, or live in a dusty area, I recommend changing it every month.
Some of the most common furnace problems include, but are not limited to:
Faulty thermostat
Dirty filter
Cracked heat exchanger
Short cycling or over cycling
Limit switch malfunction
Pilot light issues
Frayed blower belt
Find an HVAC Technician Near You
Regular furnace maintenance can make a big difference in comfort, safety, and energy savings. Skipping tune-ups can shorten your furnace’s lifespan and impact your indoor air quality.
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Main Photo Credit: Ilja / Adobe Stock Free / License
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