6 Reasons Why Rockwall, TX Homeowners Should Never Skip an Annual Furnace Tune-Up

Winter temperatures in Rockwall, Texas can easily reach lows below 40° Fahrenheit. Coming out of the intense summer heat, you likely haven’t turned your heat on in months.

To ensure your furnace is in working order, it’s essential to get a furnace tune-up at least annually. What is a furnace tune-up?

Unlike a repair or replacement, a tune-up involves a technician inspecting your system and performing routine furnace maintenance. Getting an annual furnace tune-up in Rockwall is a good way to find out about potential issues with your system before they become serious.

In this article, we’ll cover all the benefits of this important part of HVAC maintenance. Read on to discover the biggest reasons you should have a professional check your furnace each year!

1. Keep Your Furnace Running Longer: Furnace maintenance is something most homeowners give little thought to, and if they do, they rarely see to it yearly. When an HVAC technician performs a furnace tune-up, they’ll be looking for any mechanical or electrical issues.

Any homeowner wants to keep every part of their HVAC system running for as long as possible. If your furnace has a problem, a tune-up will help you catch it before it leads to expensive repairs.

By preventing more serious repairs, you’ll extend the life of your furnace. This will save you money by preventing the need for a complete system replacement.

In addition to saving money on the cost of repair and replacement, you’ll also save the time it takes for a contractor to install a new unit. Furnace replacement can take as long as ten hours depending on the type of system, so you’ll likely have to miss work if your system breaks down.

2. Reduce Energy Costs: Your furnace, whether it runs on electricity, natural gas, or propane, contributes significantly to your monthly utility bills. If your furnace is working improperly, it’s probably also not running as efficiently as it can.

When your furnace isn’t running at top efficiency, it has to work harder to keep your home warm. As a result, it uses more energy than it ordinarily would, adding to your monthly expenses.

Other reasons your furnace may be using too much energy include:

• Clogged or dirty air filter

• Obstructed air ducts

• Thermostat issues

When you get furnace tune-up services, your technician will check any potential reasons your furnace could be pulling too much power. Because heating systems make up 40% of electricity usage, the energy savings alone can pay for the furnace tune-up cost over time.

3. Save on Repairs: Another way an annual tune-up can save you money is by preventing repairs. Even if something does need to be repaired, a tune-up can delay an issue from becoming serious.

When it starts getting cold, the last thing you want is for your furnace to break down unexpectedly. A tune-up can help you prepare your HVAC system for the colder months before you need heat.

4. Protect Your Home: A furnace with mechanical problems or general wear can increase the risk of a house fire or gas leak. Many people leave the heat on in their homes when they go to work, which makes these hazards more dangerous.

Natural gas and propane are not only extremely flammable but can also lead to suffocation. Scheduling a furnace tune-up can help you prevent these types of risks.

HVAC technicians have the training to find problems with a system that could lead to house fires or gas leaks. During your tune-up, the tech will advise you about any potential dangers.

5. Warranty Maintenance: While few homeowners consider regular furnace maintenance, even fewer give any thought to their system’s warranty. Leaving your furnace unchecked for years on end can void the warranty on your system.

If your warranty becomes invalid, you’ll be left completely responsible for the cost of replacement if it breaks down. Warranties can have a span of as long as 20 years depending on the company.

If something does go wrong with your furnace, keeping documentation of routine maintenance will make it much easier to make use of the warranty. You’ll want to find out what your furnace’s warranty requires as far as maintenance frequency.

Find the details of the warranty on your system and schedule an inspection before it’s too late.

6. Maintain Adequate Airflow: A tell-tale sign of a problem with your furnace is no air coming out of the vents when you turn up the heat. A tune-up will help you find out if your furnace is receiving enough air.

Clogged air filters and blower issues can both lead to insufficient airflow into your furnace. Even if it’s only partially restricted, your system may be straining to force the warm air into your duct system, making it use too much energy and wasting your money.

Restricted airflow can also cause your furnace to break down sooner. When you get a tune-up, the technician will let you know if your furnace isn’t getting enough air and the potential causes.