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It’s the coldest night of the year, and without warning, your heater stops working.
What’s the first thought that pops into your head?
Is it the anticipation of spending a few hundred dollars to fix your furnace? Or is it the frustration that you’ll have to survive the next several hours (or even days) in a chilly house?
In either case, there’s no way you’re going to feel positive about a broken heating system.
Avoid that headache this winter by scheduling a heating system tune-up. With preventative maintenance, you’ll help yourself and your family in more ways than you might realize. This article will discuss the right time to schedule a heater tune-up and the many benefits of this essential annual task.
When to Get a Heating System Tune-Up
A heating system inspection and tune-up should be done at least a couple of weeks before the first cold snap. Depending on where you live across the states, that could be anywhere from late August to early November.
The first cold nights around Dallas occur later in November. If you need HVAC services in Rockwall, Forney, or Kaufman, TX, schedule a technician visit around the first week of November. That will give you a chance to test the system, find any issues, and make repairs before you need to kick the heat on for the season.
A heating system tune-up is one half of your annual maintenance duties. You should have two service appointments each year, one for your heating system and one for your A/C system. The best time is before the first use, so that means scheduling your services for spring and fall.
Benefits of Heater Maintenance
A service technician performs several tests and tasks to get heating systems ready for the winter. If you use a furnace for heat, you can expect an inspection to include the following:
- Removing and cleaning burners
- Cleaning the blower and testing the motor
- Lubricating moving parts
- Adjusting or replacing belts
- Checking the heat exchanger for damage
- Replacing air filters
- Fixing electrical connections
- Checking the thermostat
- Inspecting vents and fuel lines
By the time your technician finishes the tune-up, everything will be clean, tightened, and ready to run. You can expect several significant benefits as a result.
Prevent Breakdown
According to HomeAdvisor, the average furnace repair costs a little over $300. Not only is that more expensive than preventative maintenance, but it’s also not an expense that you expect. If a random failure happens, it can sometimes be difficult to cover a few hundred dollars that aren’t in the budget.
Semi-annual maintenance is an investment you can plan, and it will be much cheaper than a repair or replacement. With an HVAC maintenance plan, you save on your heating system tune-up costs even more, and you get extra benefits like repair discounts and priority service.
Protect Your Household
An essential component of a heating inspection is the heat exchanger and fuel lines. While they’re not common, a cracked heat exchanger or other system leak is an enormous threat to the entire household. The chance of fire increases, and if heating system byproducts are released, you could face the severe risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
While more serious health hazards are enough to warrant preventative maintenance, everyday comfort can also be improved with a tune-up. If there’s an excess of dust or debris in the system, indoor air quality will degrade. By looking for cleaning opportunities, your technician will ensure the air circulating through the home is contaminant-free.
Improve Efficiency, Lower Your Bills
When all of the parts are fixed, tightened, lubricated, and otherwise primed for action, you can expect them to warm your house in less time. Whether you use electric or gas heat, the improved system efficiency means you’ll have lower utility bills.
Changing the air filter alone can save your system up to 15% in energy consumption. With a full system tune-up, you’ll stand to save even more energy. Your heating system can account for almost half of your monthly energy costs, so making it over 20% more efficient will have a substantial impact on your wallet.
Keep Your Warranty
A furnace will typically last about 15-20 years, and you can maximize its lifespan with regular maintenance. Annual service calls will improve your system’s performance and lessen the chance of a breakdown. If you do need a repair though, you might be able to get your furnace warranty to pay for it.
A typical manufacturer’s parts and labor warranty will run for 10 years. There may be limited component coverage on top of that as well, such as a 20-year parts warranty on the heat exchanger.
So, if your heating system breaks down after a few years, you won’t have to pay for service, right? Well, in many cases, that depends on whether you’ve been on top of your annual maintenance.
For a manufacturer that covers the bill under their warranty, it’s in their best interest to limit qualified repairs. That’s why they often work an inspection requirement into the fine print.
Having an annual inspection will keep your warranty intact. While you likely won’t have heating system problems when you have regular tune-ups, anything is possible when you’re dealing with moving parts. Protect your system and your warranty by scheduling a tech appointment before winter hits.
It's Time for a Tune-Up
It’s the perfect time to schedule a heating system tune-up with HVAC professional services in the Forney, TX area. With a thorough look at your system and proactive fixes to potential problems, you’ll be sure to stay comfortable and save money this winter.
If you’re ready for your annual service appointment, our technicians at Infinity Texas Air are here to help you prepare for the season. We offer the expertise, prompt service, and generous maintenance packages to ensure you get the best value possible. Contact us today to learn more about our service options or to schedule an appointment.
