Why should you service your furnace every year?
Before the cold weather hits, experts recommend having a professional service your furnace to keep it in good running order and prevent it from breaking down when you need it most. An annual furnace inspection and service will prolong the life of the system, save energy and decrease health risks.
Should gas furnace maintenance be a priority for homeowners?
This is just one reason why regular gas furnace maintenance should be a priority for many homeowners. For those who do not prioritize their furnace maintenance, they can run into issues or problems getting their furnace to run properly.
Do you need service records for a new furnace?
It's easy to stop thinking about service on a new furnace, but most manufacturer warranties require you to regularly maintain your system. If you have a warranty claim, the manufacturer has the right to ask for service records to prove you've been keping up with required maintenance.
How often should my HVAC system be serviced?
Manufacturers recommend each side of the system get inspected and serviced once per year, in spring for air conditioning and fall for heating and furnaces. Like changing the oil in your car, this annual servicing is a necessary part of HVAC care.
What happens if you don't service your furnace?
When you don't maintain your furnace, it doesn't take long for the air filter to become completely clogged with dust, debris and even mold. Once the air filter can no longer keep particles out, your furnace and your ducts become coated with these nasty airborne particles.
What maintenance needs to be done on a furnace?
A Complete Gas Furnace Maintenance ChecklistChange the Filters. You should change furnace filters on this schedule: ... Clean the Burners. ... Check the Gas Line. ... Test the Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector. ... Clean and Oil Motors and Bearings. ... Check Thermostat. ... Ignition and Flame. ... Flush Drains and Traps.More items...•
Does a furnace need to be serviced every year?
All furnace manufacturers recommend that you have yearly maintenance performed by a qualified technician. Most furnace warranties state that any damage sustained to the unit due to a lack of regular maintenance will not be covered in the warranty.
What does a furnace tune up consist of?
Inspection of the heat exchanger, gas pressure and flame operation. Indoor air filter cleaning or replacement. The cleanliness of your air filter affects both the energy efficiency of your furnace and your indoor air quality. Regular cleaning or replacement is essential to keep your furnace running smoothly.
How often should a home furnace be serviced?
once a yearA gas furnace should be serviced at least once a year, preferably, though, in both the spring and the fall. Annual maintenance, including a thorough examination and cleaning of the parts that commonly malfunction, like the air filter, the fan, the pilot light, and the heat exchanger, can usually prevent these problems.
How do I clean my furnace myself?
1:365:38Furnace Maintenance: Cleaning Your Furnace - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to need a vacuum some compressed air and a soft bristle brush for the next. Part vacuumMoreYou're going to need a vacuum some compressed air and a soft bristle brush for the next. Part vacuum the inside where you can. Reach. Use the soft bristle brush to gently dust the gas assembly.
Is a furnace tune up worth it?
Yes, yes, yes – an HVAC tune-up is worth the money. Just like your vehicle, your HVAC system is a complex piece of machinery that gets a lot of “mileage.” It's full of critical and moving components, that experience wear and tear over time.
Can a furnace last 50 years?
Although some furnaces can last more than 40 years (extremely rare), the average life of a furnace is around 15 to 30 years. As long as you have scheduled annual furnace maintenance, it should easily last over 15 years. Just like your car, your older furnace may need some basic repairs.
Does a gas furnace need to be cleaned?
To maintain your gas furnace and keep it running efficiently, we recommend annual servicing from a trained HVAC professional. At a minimum it should be cleaned at the beginning of each heating season, but repeating mid-year will help keep your gas furnace in peak condition and help prevent future problems.
How long should a furnace tune-up take?
to two hoursA furnace tune-up can take between an hour and a half to two hours. But it mostly depends on the age of your furnace. If they find you need more substantial repairs, it may take longer.
How long does it take to service a furnace?
A professional furnace cleaning usually takes up to 2 hours. However, it may take longer if the furnace is especially large or dirty. A furnace cleaning and tune-up includes: Examining and replacing air filters.
How often should a furnace be tuned?
yearlyScheduling a yearly furnace tune-up may not be as exciting as scheduling a vacation, but it is an important one. By keeping your furnace clean and maintained, you are helping prevent future breakdowns, potential carbon monoxide leaks, and sky-high heating bills.
How do I service my furnace for the winter?
Check the following list to be sure your furnace is ready for the coming winter.Turn on the thermostat. ... Change the air filters. ... Cover the AC condenser. ... Clean the heat exchanger. ... Lubricate and clean the blower motor. ... Test the igniter switch. ... Inspect the chimney and carbon monoxide detectors.More items...
Does a gas furnace need to be cleaned?
To maintain your gas furnace and keep it running efficiently, we recommend annual servicing from a trained HVAC professional. At a minimum it should be cleaned at the beginning of each heating season, but repeating mid-year will help keep your gas furnace in peak condition and help prevent future problems.
How often should you change furnace filter?
In general, this is how often changing furnace filters needs to be done: For 1- to 2-inch filters, replace them every 1 to 3 months. For 3- to 4-inch filters, replace them every 6 to 9 months. For 5- to 6-inch filters, replace them every 9 to 12 months.
How do you inspect a furnace?
0:063:01Home Inspection - The Furnace - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is called a split system this is a furnace and an air conditioner in one. All these electronicsMoreThis is called a split system this is a furnace and an air conditioner in one. All these electronics are above the scope of the home inspector I'm just verifying that it is working as intended.
Importance of Regular Maintenance
Just like a car needs to get its oil changed a few times a year, a gas furnace should receive a regular check-up from an HVAC professional. There are several reasons why this is so important. Without regular maintenance, the odds of a catastrophic failure will go up exponentially. If this happens, it will end up costing you a great deal of money.
When and How Often Should I Have My Furnace Serviced?
Most homeowners opt to have preventative maintenance performed at least once a year. Some people have it done less often, but the longer you wait in-between tune-ups, the more likely major problems will occur.
What Is Involved in Gas Furnace Maintenance?
In most cases, your HVAC technician will simply go through a checklist and ensure each part of your furnace is in good working order. They will ensure the ventilation in the home is free and clear, and they will also clean the ducts and change any dirty filters.
Who Should Maintain My Furnace for Me?
When asking the question, do you need to service a gas furnace, homeowners often wonder if it’s a job they can do themselves. While there might be certain elements of the job you can do on your own, the reality is that you will most likely need a trained HVAC professional to handle the majority of the job.
Why is furnace service important?
Furnace servicing is important not only for keeping you and your home warm but also for preventing serious harm to your family and property. Because of its heating components, furnace technology does carry the risk of causing a fire if not maintained efficiently. Over time, lack of maintenance can increase the chance of the furnace mechanics breaking, which, coupled with the heat generation, could lead to a fire starting and spreading within the home. This can be caused by a combination of issues. For example, if dust is clogging up the flue, the heat from the generator can combust to start a fire and/or release poisonous fumes like carbon monoxide. The same mechanisms that keep your family warm can cause other serious issues if not treated, but this CAN be avoided with routine servicing.
What Does Furnace Servicing Do?
Furnace Servicing is a thorough process designed to keep the unit clean, functional, and most importantly, safe. Furnace maintenance has multiple layers to the procedure, involving highly specialized technical skills needed to identify potential issues and service the respective components. This can range from simple filter cleanings to lubricating the central components. Furnace servicing is quite thorough but here are just a few of the tasks involved:
What happens if you don't check your furnace?
Health Risk Safeguard – If you do not get your furnace checked periodically, you expose yourself and others in the household to risk. The parts and fixtures in the furnace may get clogged and affected by debris. When this continues unchecked, the result can be carbon monoxide leaks.
What Can You Expect in Such Annual Tune-up Services?
There are agencies offering furnace repair and maintenance services exclusively. Some also offer comprehensive HVAC system services. Typically an annual furnace tune-up package comprises of:
Why is it important to have a gas furnace?
If your gas furnace, as well as the HVAC system, is free of minor issues like cracks, clogged filters and others , it can help the machine to run efficiently for long. It can also save you money that you would have spent in a replacement of a part or total overhaul of the system.
What happens if a gas furnace is cracked?
If the heat exchanger is cracked, poisonous gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, soot and even nitrogen oxides can be released into the air in your home and when in the right amount, these gases can cause irreversible harm to your family. This problem can be caused by a host of factors including a clogged filter and more. That is why regular maintenance of the gas furnace is paramount.
Does a gas furnace work in Sacramento?
However, with proper and regular maintenance, your gas furnace would work at peak efficiency and bring about a considerable reduction of your energy bills.
Can you do DIY maintenance on a gas furnace?
Besides reaching out to an expert, if you want to carry out DIY maintenance on your gas furnace, you need to make sure you understand the workings of a furnace. It can be quite dangerous to handle maintenance on your own.
Is a gas furnace dangerous?
You ought to know that this is the most dangerous risk posed by the negligence of the gas heat furnace for too long. If the heat exchanger is cracked, poisonous gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, soot and even nitrogen oxides can be released into the air in your home and when in the right amount, these gases can cause irreversible harm to your family. This problem can be caused by a host of factors including a clogged filter and more. That is why regular maintenance of the gas furnace is paramount.
How Often Should the Furnace be Cleaned?
Before the cold weather hits, experts recommend having a professional service your furnace to keep it in good running order and prevent it from breaking down when you need it most.
Why is it important to schedule furnace service in late summer?
Failure to perform needed maintenance is one of the most common causes of HVAC breakdowns. Because fall is the busy time for most HVAC companies , it's a good idea to call to schedule furnace service in late summer.
How Much Does it Cost to Clean a Furnace?
Ask if that amount will come off your bill, if you have work done. On average, furnace cleaning costs $60 to $85. Technicians will make sure everything is safe, as efficient as possible, and running at peak performance.
What Does Annual Furnace Cleaning Involve?
Maintenance technicians will follow a checklist to cover all the important elements. Here are some things you can expect from a typical furnace inspection and cleaning.
What Should I Look for When Hiring an HVAC Technician?
Most states or cities license HVAC contractors. Check with your local licensing agency to see if the company is licensed, bonded and insured, and ask for references from the company. You can also search for licenses through Angi's License Check.
Why is my furnace red tagged?
In particularly unsafe situations, your furnace could be red-tagged, meaning it can't be activated until repaired. Not maintaining your furnace — whether it's gas or electric — can cause it to run less efficiently, making it work even harder, therefore increasing your monthly energy bills.
Can a furnace stop working?
Left unserviced, a furnace can stop working suddenly, leaving your family in the cold. It can also be a health hazard. Technicians say a furnace checkup can reveal carbon monoxide leaks, which are hard to detect because the gas is colorless and odorless. Carbon monoxide can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea and even death.
What is the procedure for inspection and maintenance of a gas furnace?
Here’s what gas furnace repair professionals will do when they service gas furnaces:
How do gas furnace repairs affect gas bills?
Gas furnace repair technicians do not usually suggest replacing gas furnaces until they break down completely. In some cases, gas furnace technicians may recommend a furnace replacement if there is a gas leak or if one of its major components such as the gas burner is defective. Otherwise, a repaired or well working and maintained furnace will run more efficiently saving you money.
