Experts in the heating and cooling industry recommend that every homeowner has their furnace and boiler tuned up once per year. This will keep your equipment working at optimal efficiency throughout the year, and there are other benefits. A well maintained system is less likely to break down when you need it most, and the useful lifespan of the equipment may be extended significantly. An annual tune-up for your furnace and boiler will make your equipment safer; minor issues can be detected and fixed before they develop into larger problems. In this article, we will take a more detailed look at how you can benefit from an annual tune-up for your furnace and boiler.
Saving Money with Regular Tune-Ups
Everyone enjoys saving money, some people skip essential maintenance to hang on to their cash, but this is a false economy. In fact, a lack of maintenance is the leading factor when a furnace or boiler breaks down. When this happens it’s usually a more extensive problem and the repair could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
When an annual tune-up is carried out by a heating technician, they can identify any smaller issues and advise you on how to deal with them. Fixing a minor issue is usually simpler; it takes less time, and this is far cheaper than the alternative. A poorly maintained heating system may need more frequent repairs and every time the technician visits your home it will cost money. Regular tune-ups and essential maintenance will usually reduce the need for repair visits, and this will save money.
When your heating system receives a regular tune-up, you may also notice that this is reflected in your energy bills too. When heating equipment is well maintained it will run at optimal efficiency and this will use less power. This will translate into lower energy bills without any loss in performance.
Maintaining Maximum Comfort Levels
When you purchase a heating and cooling system, you’re making a significant investment in your indoor comfort. Every homeowner wants to heat and cool their homes quickly and wherever possible use as little energy as possible. Striking a balance between a comfortable home and lower energy bills can be tricky. This is another area where a regular tune-up for your heating system can really help.
When your furnace and boiler have been tuned up, you can set your thermostat to your ideal temperature without too much worry about your energy bills. A well maintained heating and cooling system will reach the set temperature quickly. The equipment will run effectively, and it will be far more energy efficient to keep your bills down.
A professional tune-up on your heating and cooling system will also investigate the performance of any accessories that have been installed. This could include an air cleaner and/or humidifier that would be used to clean your air. Stale indoor air is unpleasant to breathe, it can trigger allergic reactions, and it can lead to health issues. When air cleaning systems are tuned up, they will run efficiently, and the indoor air will be fresher and cleaner.
There are other factors to consider to make sure that you get the best performance from your heating and cooling equipment. It’s essential that your home has good insulation levels to keep the treated air in your home and to prevent it from escaping. Another way that treated air can escape is through gaps in the doors and window seals, and any gaps can be easily sealed with a good quality sealant. If you’re not sure about your insulation levels, contact a local, certified HVAC specialist for expert help and advice.
Maintaining Home Safety
Every homeowner wants to keep their indoor spaces comfortable, and a cold home is not a pleasant place to be. When you introduce a modern heating system into your home, there are a number of hazards that you need to be aware of, such as indoor air pollution, house fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
It’s estimated that around 20% of house fires are caused by defective water heaters and heating systems. Also, approximately 150 Americans are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning every year. These facts illustrate the dangers, but modern heating equipment has a number of safety systems fitted to keep the users safe. So, why are these safety issues still a problem and why does this keep happening?
Sadly, many homeowners are using older heating systems, and they don’t have the safe level of safety as modern equipment. Others have good heating equipment that has safety features, but their heating systems are badly maintained. When an annual furnace and boiler tune-up is carried out by a certified heating technician, they pay particular attention to safety. They will find and repair any potential safety problems before they can become a real danger to your family and your home.
One of the most dangerous problems is a cracked heat exchanger. This can vent carbon monoxide, and if the cracks grow larger, it can easily start a fierce house fire. The heat exchanger needs to be tested to make sure that it’s venting gases correctly. The safety shut off and ignition system will also be checked to ensure that they are working correctly and that they are safe to use.
Don’t Wait to Tune-Up
Some people wait for the cold weather to arrive before they pay any attention to their home heating system. This is a mistake, your furnace is far more likely to break down in colder temperatures, and it’s a better idea to get the tune-up before the heating season begins. This is even more important if you have an older furnace or boiler that will usually have a useful lifespan of 18-20 years maximum.
Because many homeowners wait until there is a problem, the HVAC companies in your area may be in high demand, and it could be harder to get an appointment. If you have any lingering doubts about the performance and/or energy efficiency of your heating system, it’s a great idea to schedule an annual tune-up.