Between professional lawn applications and raking, you typically do a variety of tasks to prepare your yard for cooler temperatures. Indoors, your furnace is the same. It also needs service to keep it operating properly all through the fall and winter.

But how often should you service your furnace in The Bay Area? What if it’s newer? Or working well? Is service needed then? Let’s review why furnace maintenance is needed and how frequently you should schedule it.

Why Furnace Service Is Needed

Your furnace is critical to keeping your residence pleasant during cold temps. When it’s frequently tuned up, you’ll get reliable, efficient heat. If you frequently skip maintenance, your furnace can become dirty. This can lead your furnace to work48} more and, as a result, increase your energy costs. Skipping tune-ups can also result in your furnace breaking down, saddling you with pricey repair bills that could have been stopped in most cases.

One of the most crucial tasks you can do on your own is frequently replacing your furnace’s air filter. When your filter gets dusty, your furnace may start responding by doing something referred to as short cycling, where it flips on and off more frequently to prevent overheating. Apart from the fact that this affects your energy costs, it also affects your furnace’s life span since it’s working more frequently.

If you’ve installed a flat filter, we suggest putting in a new one at minimum monthly. Pleated filters can last up to three months. A simple approach to find out whether you need to replace your filter is by removing it and tilting it toward the light. If you don’t see light through it, you should replace it.

However, how often you should replace your filter is contingent upon how frequently your furnace heats, if you have indoor animals and if anyone in your home has allergies. The Contra Costa Heating & AC professionals can provide support if you aren’t sure how frequently you should change your filter or what the right model is for your residence.

How Regularly You Should Request Furnace Maintenance

We recommend scheduling furnace maintenance in The Bay Area annually, ideally during the time between air conditioning and heating season. This will give you an advantage just in case you have to have any repairs and will confirm you get stress-free heat during the winter. It also keeps your manufacturer’s warranty valid, which is important if you use a new furnace.

Apart from getting a new air filter and keeping your register grates clean, we don’t advise doing furnace maintenance without professional help. Your furnace is a complicated appliance that needs assistance from a heating and cooling pro. All our friendly Contra Costa Heating & AC pros have passed thorough education to better help you. They’re also fully licensed and insured, offering you peace of mind that your furnace is in great hands.

Here are some of services we’ll do on our maintenance visit:

  • Inspect crucial pieces of your furnace, like the heat exchanger, blower and burner.
  • Clean the inner parts of your furnace, such as the flame sensor, burner and blower.
  • Look at the flue to ensure it’s venting properly.
  • Test complete furnace operation for safety and optimal heating.

Now is an excellent time to request your furnace maintenance appointment with Contra Costa Heating & AC. Our professionals are here to help you experience a worry-free winter with energy-efficient heating. Contact us at 510-343-9841 to request your appointment now, and don’t forget to check our offers for select discounts on your upcoming maintenance appointment.