It’s well below freezing. The ground is covered with snow. You can’t remember the last time your furnace kicked on. You try to troubleshoot, but it’s no use—your furnace has quit working. As you wait for help from HVAC professional, your home becomes very cold.
To prevent this situation, schedule a tune up every fall. Furnace contractors are often at their busiest in winter, not only will you more than likely have to wait, you may be charged high emergency fees on top of repair costs.
Scheduling a tune-up during the fall will ensure that your furnace is in good working order before the cold weather. Also, maintenance fees are much less costly than emergency repairs. The small investment in a furnace tune-up now (roughly $75 or less) will return big rewards later in more ways than one.
Pro Tip:
What most people don’t realize is that it’s nearly always stated in the fine print of the owner’s manual or warranty that the homeowner is required to maintain the furnace for the warranty to remain valid. Some manufacturers even require proof of regular maintenance, so always keep a copy of your receipt for any service work performed.
Along with routine maintenance, there are a few simple things you can do to keep your furnace running as efficiently as possible.
- Switch your thermostat to the heating mode.
- Change your filter regularly, especially during heavy use.
- Test your furnace while it’s still warm out.
- Make sure nothing flammable is stored next to your furnace.
- Dust the outside of your furnace regularly.
- Install a carbon monoxide (CO) detector and test it monthly.