The Value of Annual Furnace Maintenance
As the temperature falls and you find yourself reaching for the thermostat more often, you should also reach for your phone to schedule annual furnace maintenance. Ensuring your furnace operates at peak efficiency this winter enhances your comfort, safety and peace of mind all season long.
Here’s a little more about what this crucial annual task involves and why you shouldn’t neglect it.
What Is Done During Routine Furnace Maintenance?
A maintenance appointment is an easy way to get your heating system ready for the cold months. Although the particular tasks depend on the brand and age of your unit, you can typically expect your technician to perform the following:
- Examine and clean the burner: Over time, dirt and debris can block the burner, affecting its performance. Cleaning it maintains optimal heat transfer.
- Test the gas valves: Ensuring these valves are fully open and operating correctly 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.
- Assess and tighten electrical elements: Loose connections can make your HVAC unit hazardous and inefficient. Fortunately, tightening them is a fast and easy process.
- Clean the blower: A dirty blower affects your furnace’s ability to distribute warm air throughout your home. Cleaning and balancing the fan ensures optimal airflow.
- Change the air filter: Clean air filters allow proper airflow throughout your system, which is why you should always replace a dirt-filled air filter in your furnace. Installing a fresh, new air filter also boosts indoor air quality if you set up a filtration system.
Why It’s Helpful to Schedule Annual Furnace Maintenance
If your furnace seems to be running fine, is it still useful to set up a maintenance tune-up? Here is why that’s the case:
- Decrease mid-season breakdowns: Few things are more discouraging than waking up on a cold winter morning to learn your furnace has stopped working. Mid-season breakdowns are aggravating and can leave you scrambling to find someone to fix it. Annual furnace maintenance lowers the likelihood of unexpected problems because your technician inspects every part of your system, catching minor issues before they escalate into costly repairs.
- Lower repair costs: It’s a simple equation—the sooner you find a problem, the less expensive it is to repair. By investing in reasonably priced, planned maintenance visits, you can avoid expensive, inconvenient repairs, keeping more money in your pocket.
- Increase your furnace’s life span: Like a well-maintained car, a furnace that receives annual tune-ups will likely last longer than a neglected heating system. Annual maintenance helps you avoid the expense of early furnace replacement by adding years to your system’s life span.
- Raise energy efficiency: A well-maintained heating system works more efficiently. When all the elements are clean and in good working order, your system doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your residence cozy. This lowers your energy bills and diminishes your environmental impact.
- Enhance indoor air quality: Polluted indoor air intensifies allergies and respiratory issues. The air filter in your furnace captures 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.
- Promotes safety: A failing furnace is not only inefficient, it also could be dangerous. Cracked heat exchangers or faulty gas valves can cause potentially deadly carbon monoxide leaks. Knowing your system has has received a thorough examination during routine maintenance should give you peace of mind this winter.
What Time of Year Should You Plan Your Maintenance Visit?
To enjoy the most benefits, it’s best to arrange annual furnace maintenance in the fall before winter’s chill arrives. This gives you time to make sure any issues are attended to before you need to rely heavily on your heating system.
Do-It-Yourself Furnace Maintenance Between Formal Visits
While professional maintenance is essential, you can complete several tasks yourself to make sure your furnace operates smoothly between visits:
- Change the air filter every 30 to 90 days to optimize airflow.
- Be sure that the home’s return and supply registers are open and unobstructed for system balance.
- Vacuum the exterior of the furnace with the brush attachment to keep it clean.
Choose Rob's Albertan Service Experts for Furnace Maintenance in Edmonton
If it’s time for your next furnace maintenance visit, Rob's Albertan Service Experts is a heating and cooling team you can count on. Our certified technicians provide fast, long-lasting fixes for all your furnace and air conditioning dilemmas. We’re proud to deliver solutions to our customers and are dedicated to making a meaningful difference in your life and sense of comfort. We even offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for your peace of mind. To set your heating system up for success this winter, call 780-800-9047 today to schedule furnace maintenance with Rob's Albertan Service Experts.
