Between pro lawn applications and raking, you likely do a good deal of work to get your yard ready for colder temperatures. In your home, your furnace is similar. It also requires upkeep to keep it operating correctly throughout the fall and winter.
But how regularly should you maintain your furnace in the Bay Area? What if it’s new? Or operating well? Is service required then? Let’s discuss why furnace maintenance is needed and how regularly you should book it.
Why Furnace Maintenance is Important
Your furnace is crucial to keeping your home comfy during the winter. When it’s frequently tuned up, you’ll have worry-free, efficient heating. If you often neglect maintenance, your furnace can accumulate dirt. This can cause your furnace to work harder and, because of that, drive up your gas costs. Forgetting tune-ups may also lead your furnace to break down, leaving you with pricey repair bills that could have been stopped in many situations.
One of the most crucial things you can do without help is consistently changing your furnace’s air filter. When your filter gets dusty, your furnace might start reacting by doing something known as short cycling, where it turns on and off more often to avoid overheating. In addition to affecting your gas expenses, it also decreases your furnace’s lifetime since it’s running more often.
If you’re using a flat filter, we advise putting in a new one at the very least monthly. Pleated filters can keep filtering up to three months. A quick way to find out whether you need to get a fresh filter is by taking it out and tilting it toward the light. If you don’t notice light through it, you’re due to replace it.
However, how regularly you should change your filter is contingent upon how frequently your furnace heats, if you have dogs or cats and if anyone in your household has allergies. The Contra Costa Heating & AC professionals can provide support if you’re unsure how regularly you should get a new filter or what the best type is for your furnace.
How Frequently You Should Schedule Furnace Maintenance
We recommend doing furnace maintenance in the Bay Area annually, ideally during the time between air conditioning and heating months. This will offer you a head start in case you have to have any repairs and will confirm you get headache-free warmth all winter long. It also keeps your manufacturer’s warranty intact, which is critical if you use a new furnace.
Other than getting a fresh air filter and keeping your register grates free of dust, we don’t recommend performing furnace maintenance yourself. Your furnace is a complicated appliance that demands assistance from a heating and cooling specialist. All our friendly Contra Costa Heating & AC techs have undergone in-depth courses to better assist you. They’re also fully licensed and insured, providing you peace of mind that your furnace is in experienced hands.
Here are some of items we’ll complete on our maintenance visit:
- Inspect critical pieces of your furnace, including the heat exchanger, blower and burner.
- Clean the inner parts of your furnace, in addition to the flame sensor, burner and blower.
- Check the flue to ensure it’s venting correctly.
- Examine total furnace system for safety and optimal heating.
Today is a great time to request your furnace maintenance appointment with Contra Costa Heating & AC. Our experts are here to help you have a worry-free winter with energy-efficient heat. Contact us at 510-343-9841 to schedule your appointment now, and remember to check our offers for special discounts on your future maintenance appointment.