Most of the time, our home’s furnace is out of sight, making it easy for us to forget that it requires regular servicing. It is important to remember to have your furnace serviced at least once each year to keep it running efficiently.
Furnace Service becomes more important the older it is. Newer furnaces are equipped with features that shut it off if a problem is detected. However, older furnaces do not shut themselves off, and therefore require more maintenance to prevent major issues from arising. The biggest problem that affects furnace performance is dirt and dust, which can drastically lower efficiency. If your furnace or boiler is running in an environment that has a lot of dust or animal hair, it is especially important that you maintain it regularly and properly.
Having your furnace serviced by a professional is essential to ensure it is properly functioning. Many people choose to have their furnace serviced prior to the cold winter months, but as long as you are consistent in your yearly maintenance, it does not matter what time of year your furnace is serviced. A heating professional can look at your unit and to bring it up to its maximum efficiency for the upcoming season.
Aside from having a professional service your furnace, you can also work to maintain it yourself.
The furnace filter should be replaced or cleaned at the beginning of the heating season and about once a month during periods of continuous use. If the filter looks clogged, replace it with a new, clean filter of the same type and size regardless of the length of time it has been in use. A clean or new filter saves money by making your furnace more energy-efficient.
Whether your furnace is old or new, an annual service will lower your gas bills, extend the life of your heating equipment, keep your home safe and improve the reliability of your furnace which results in fewer repairs.