When most homeowners consider the necessity of gas furnace service, they think of the annual cleaning and inspection. However, furnace servicing must also involve system diagnosis, repair and maintenance, and sometimes replacement. Gas furnaces can fail for various reasons – rust and corrosion due to harsh winter weather conditions, improper ventilation, improper installation, or simply age. Regular furnace maintenance can help ward off the need for furnace repair. Let’s discuss what you should know about caring for your furnace.
Furnaces are a vital part of any home’s heating and cooling system. They are responsible for heating your house during the winter months and cooling it during the summer months. If you fail to take care of your furnace, it can lead to serious problems that could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repairs.
Why Should You Get Your Furnace Cleaned?
If you have a gas furnace, you must get it cleaned yearly. An annual furnace cleaning is essential for ensuring that your system remains working at peak efficiency and also helps protect against expensive repairs down the road.
Getting your furnace cleaned is one of the most important things you can do to keep it running efficiently and safely. This is because a dirty furnace has more parts that can break down over time, causing expensive repairs and replacements. The good news is that cleaning your furnace by a professional is relatively inexpensive compared to other home improvement projects.
What Is Involved In an Annual Furnace Cleaning?
When your furnace gets cleaned, a licensed technician will inspect it and ensure no leaks or other problems are present. He will clean the fan blades and clear the dust from the heat exchanger and air filter. The technician will also inspect the pilot light and ensure it’s properly lit and functioning. If there are any problems with your furnace, he can fix them before they become serious issues that could cost you money.
Risks of Not Getting Your Furnace Serviced Regularly
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding how often you should get your furnace serviced.
The answer is all about taking care of your investment. If you have an older system, it may need to be serviced more often, while newer systems may only need maintenance once or twice each year. Getting your furnace serviced regularly is essential to keeping it in good working order. Your furnace and air conditioner are responsible for keeping your home warm and comfortable, and if they’re not operating properly, it can be very costly.
Risk of a Cracked Heat Exchanger
A cracked heat exchanger can cause serious damage to your system and can lead to costly repairs if it isn’t caught early on. A cracked heat exchanger will require replacement, resulting in labor costs and parts charges that can cost several hundred dollars, if not thousands. The most common symptom of a cracked heat exchanger is low airflow through the vents, which can be mistaken for poor performance or dirty filters.
Temporarily or Permanently Ruined Pilot Light
If you don’t maintain your gas furnace, you could see a temporary issue with the pilot light on your system. This can happen if there’s an issue with one of the components in your system, such as the igniter wire or control board. You may also see this happen if there’s an issue with the fuel source for your system (for example, if there’s no gas coming into the home). If none of these issues are resolved, then you could ultimately permanently damage your pilot light system and need to replace it altogether. This will cost you more money than just having it regularly maintained!
Dusty or Dirty Filters
Furnace filters help keep dust out of your home by trapping particles as they pass through the air. Without this protection, dust can accumulate inside ducts and around fans, motors, heat exchangers, and other components within the system itself — all of which can compromise airflow efficiency and lead to short-term heating problems like poor circulation.
Benefits of Regular Gas Furnace Service & Maintenance
Regular maintenance is essential to the health and longevity of your furnace. It prolongs the unit’s life and keeps it running efficiently, saving you money on energy bills. A properly maintained HVAC system can also help prevent problems with indoor air quality and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Energy Efficiency Increases
When a technician comes out every year or two (depending on how long you’ve had your unit) and cleans out its filters, checks its belts and belts tensioners, cleans out its air filter, replaces its igniter if needed, tests its pressure switch operation and makes sure everything is running smoothly — all these things add up to better energy efficiency over time. This means lower monthly bills for heating and cooling your home for years to come!
Forestalls Huge Expenses of System Repairs
An inefficient furnace is one of the biggest culprits concerning high utility bills. When a furnace begins to fail, this can cause serious problems such as poor performance or overheating. If left unaddressed, these issues could lead to more expensive problems, such as repairs, replacement parts, or even replacement altogether! With regular maintenance appointments, you’ll be able to identify any issues before they become significant problems.
Extension of Your Gas Furnace or HVAC Lifespan
The lifespan of an HVAC system depends on many factors, including its age, brand, and level of use. But regular maintenance will help extend the life of your furnace by maintaining its performance level. A properly maintained unit should last between 12-15 years before needing replacement.
How Often Should You Get Furnace Service?
The frequency of your furnace maintenance depends on several things, including:
The age and type of furnace you have. The older and more complex the furnace is, the more often it will need to be serviced.
The quality of the filters used in your home. Dirty filters can cause problems with efficiency and even cause damage to your HVAC system.
How much use do your heating and cooling systems get each year? If you run your A/C or heat pump 24 hours a day in the summer and winter, you may need more frequent service than someone who only uses their HVAC system for six months out of the year.
Generally, most furnaces should be inspected every one to two years by searching for an HVAC service near me.
Looking For Furnace Service? Call Fritts Heating & Air Today!
The experts at Fritts Heating & Air Conditioning recommend you professionally service your gas furnace annually. This will help your system run efficiently with the least risk of problems. They also say that a clean system is key to a safe and efficient operation. The experts at Fritts HVAC recommend regular professional inspection and service of your heating equipment. Treat your HVAC system just as you would a car or any other mechanical device.