Routine Furnace Maintenance: Why It's Necessary

Many US households rely on furnaces for their home heating needs. If yours fall in this category, you understand how vital these devices are in keeping you warm, especially in the blistering cold of winter. Plus, they are affordable, easy to use, and help you improve indoor quality when combined with a system like a humidifier. But, to ensure your furnace serves your home efficiently for a long time without constant unnecessary breakdowns, there's one thing it needs: regular maintenance. Keep reading to learn more about furnace maintenance and why it's essential.

Essentials of Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance refers to a form of service that primarily involves the complete inspection and tune-up of your heating system. Generally, furnace maintenance experts check all vital components, including the air intake grills, vents, heat exchanger, blower, blower motor, thermostat, burner and flame, and air filters for any signs of problems like corrosion, blockage, and damage. Then they adjust, clean, lubricate, and test them if necessary. Most manufacturers recommend getting your furnace inspected and maintained by a technician once a year. But to be safer, you should ensure it's been inspected before the onset of colder seasons because you will likely use it every day.

Why Furnace Maintenance is Necessary

Your furnace heating system needs routine maintenance for the following reasons:

1.       Improve efficiency

Furnaces use different fuel types such as electricity, gasoline, and propane. Either way, modern standard furnaces are designed to be 80% efficient, despite the type of fuel used. If you notice yours is losing efficiency, you have reason to suspect several faults, the topmost being a dirty filter. The others include air leaks and a blocked radiator. Fortunately, a furnace maintenance technician can inspect your system, pinpoint why it's inefficient, and recommend a solution. That way, they boost efficiency and ensure you enjoy lower fuel and energy costs.

2.       Longevity

Did you know that a furnace can last at least 15-20 years? However, your system's exact lifespan depends on numerous factors, including its size in relation to your heating needs, installation quality, and, most importantly, routine servicing and maintenance. Regular maintenance is vital in determining your system's lifespan because, without it, grime accumulates in components like the burners, fan blades, and heat exchanges. That, in turn, leads to overworking, which undermines the longevity of the entire furnace heating system.  

3.       Avoid breakdowns

A furnace breakdown is extremely inconvenient, especially in the middle of a freezing season like winter. Since the problem often arises from issues like a broken thermostat, clogged filters, blow motor failure, and fuel supply problems, you can lower their chances of happening by hiring a skilled furnace maintenance expert. That is so because such technicians inspect all essential components and identify any signs of issues or damages before they aggravate and shut down the entire furnace.

For more information on furnace maintenance, contact a company near you.

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