Is a Furnace Tune-up Necessary For Your Home?

Another winter is on the horizon, which means it’s time to think about scheduling maintenance on your furnace. Just as your vehicle requires regular tune-ups and oil changes, you furnace also requires professional care and attention to ensure it is performing optimally and safely. 

A furnace that doesn’t receive regular maintenance will not perform as efficiently which drives up your utility bills and energy use. An older furnace or improperly sized furnace for your home will also affect your energy use, but the most common reason is poor maintenance. If you haven’t had a tuneup in over a year, you are most likely wasting both energy and money. 

The small investment for a furnace tune-up will be worth it to keep your furnace clean and ensure it is performing optimally, preventing major repairs or replacements down the road. Here are some reasons why every homeowner needs to schedule an annual furnace tune-up.

• Improved Energy Efficiency: Annual maintenance on your furnace will ensure it runs at maximum efficiency. When the system is dirty or has parts that need to be fixed or replaced, the furnace has to work harder to produce the same amount of heat. This means it is using more energy to do its job. 
• Prevent wasting energy: Some homeowners supplement their home’s heating with space heaters, which will further drive up their energy use. This is a vicious cycle which is wasteful and expensive. If your furnace is properly sized and maintained, then it should be performing efficiently and creating the home comfort that your family needs, without using space heaters or wasting energy. 
• Lower Utility Bills: When your furnace isn’t working as well as it can, it will drive up your energy use, and this is reflected on your utility bills. 
• Avoiding Repairs: A fall tune-up can help catch minor problems before they are worsened by continuous use in the winter. Nobody wants their furnace to break down in the middle of winter, but this is usually when it happens. Regular maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and more costly repairs. 

During routine furnace service, our technicians will conduct an 18-point tune-up. Several steps are taken during a professional tune-up including checking the blower access door and fresh intake grills. The burners are checked for proper ignition, burner flame, and flame sense. The blower wheel will be checked for debris and cleaned if necessary. We check the wiring for corrosion and damage, the heat exchanger for rust, corrosion, and cracks which can lead to carbon monoxide seeping into your home. These are just a few of the things that our technicians will do during an 18-point furnace tuneup. 

Routine tune-ups save you money in the long run and keep your furnace running efficiently. If you are are due for an annual furnace tuneup, you can contact the professionals at Always Plumbing & Heating to schedule an appointment. Always Plumbing & Heating provides outstanding service 24/7.