Are you in need of timely, professional furnace services? Call Topline Heating & Air today at (717) 628-6825.
When winter rolls around and brings in the frigid weather, your furnace becomes your most crucial HVAC system. Your furnace sends warm air throughout your home to heat each room and keep you and your family cozy. Along with ensuring your comfort during the cold months, a properly functioning furnace works efficiently to prevent costly energy bills.
Understandably, the summer heat causes many homeowners to forget and neglect their furnaces. Their vital heating systems go months without running or receiving maintenance, rendering them unable to operate correctly when the cold weather hits. So, how often should your furnace be serviced to ensure it can provide much-needed comfort and efficiency?
To answer this question, we’ll give you a recommended service timeline. We’ll also discuss some common furnace problems that result from infrequent maintenance and some benefits of monitoring your furnace’s well-being. If you’re due for a routine check-up, schedule professional furnace maintenance by Topline Heating & Air today.
Common Furnace Problems
Whether you have an electric or gas furnace, it has numerous components that can become dirty or worn down and malfunction without regular maintenance. Some common furnace problems that result from a lack of service include:
Dirty Air Filters
Over time, your furnace’s air filters get dirty and fill with grime and debris. Dirty filters prevent proper airflow from your furnace, causing it to work overtime. This can result in increased monthly energy bills due to reduced efficiency and, eventually, hot air emitting from your furnace.
Faulty Pilot Light
Most furnace pilot lights glow blue when functioning correctly. If you have a faulty pilot light that doesn’t light up, it could be dirty and clogged or not fully pressed down, preventing the gas valve from opening. If the pilot light glows yellow, however, you could have a potentially dangerous carbon monoxide leak for which you should seek immediate professional attention.
Cracked Heat Exchanger
Another cause of a carbon monoxide leak, as well as the leakage of other toxins like nitrogen oxides, stems from a cracked heat exchanger. Dirty air filters and numerous other issues can cause a heat exchanger to crack. Whatever the culprit, a cracked heat exchanger requires immediate service.
Other Broken or Malfunctioning Components
As we mentioned, furnaces have numerous internal components that work together to produce heated air. If any one of those components breaks or malfunctions, it can prevent your furnace from operating properly. Without regular service, such issues become more likely, and repairing them becomes far more costly than a routine maintenance check.
Rattling noises and strange odors coming from your furnace commonly indicate internal component problems. If you notice them, call your trusted HVAC company to inspect your furnace.
How Often Should You Schedule Professional Furnace Service?
In order to prevent the above and other problems, how often should your furnace be serviced? At the very least, you should schedule annual maintenance checks from a professional HVAC company. However, to ensure your furnace operates as it should, offering comfort and efficiency without creating health risks, we recommend scheduling two service visits every year.
Allowing a professional HVAC technician to service your furnace in both the spring and the fall is the best course of action. In the spring, the technician can inspect your furnace for any damage or other problems it suffered while running throughout the winter. In the fall, the technician can ensure your furnace can continually provide heat during the coming cold season.
Benefits of Regular Furnace Maintenance
Regular furnace maintenance provides several benefits for both your comfort and your wallet. Such benefits include:
- More comfort: Furnace breakdowns and malfunctions due to a lack of maintenance can leave you freezing and in need of emergency service. Routine tune-ups ensure your furnace keeps you warm and cozy.
- Increased energy efficiency and reduced energy bills: A properly serviced furnace operates as efficiently as possible, helping keep monthly energy costs at a minimum.
- Extended lifespan: Regular maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your furnace, prolonging the time until you need an expensive furnace replacement.
- Less need for costly repairs: Furnace repairs are significantly more expensive than furnace maintenance. Preventative maintenance keeps your furnace functioning correctly and reduces the chances of needing repairs.
Professional Furnace Service by Topline Heating & Air
While you can help your furnace run smoothly by changing the air filters every 2-3 months, you should avoid attempting any other maintenance solutions. Without professional HVAC experience, dealing with the many moving parts of a furnace can prove dangerous. Instead, trust your furnace service to the professionals at Topline Heating & Air.
Our HVAC experts have years of industry experience and training that gives them the skills and knowledge to provide effective furnace maintenance. They know the ins and outs of furnace service, including how to diagnose and fix various problems. They’ll safely and efficiently work on your furnace until it operates at maximum capacity.
During a professional furnace maintenance visit by Topline Heating & Air, our HVAC technicians will thoroughly inspect your furnace, checking for any existing problems and noting where future issues could occur. We’ll fix and prevent such issues, clean or replace dirty air filters, tune up components when necessary, and ensure your furnace is ready to provide heat and comfort throughout the winter. Our furnace services are cost-effective, and the results are worth every penny.
Call Topline Heating & Air Today
Hopefully, we have provided a detailed answer to the question, “How often should your furnace be serviced?” We also hope this article has given you a better understanding of the importance of regular furnace maintenance and the issues that can arise from a lack of furnace care.
Whether you need furnace maintenance today or want to schedule biannual service visits, choose the experts at Topline Heating & Air. If you think your furnace is nearing the end of its lifespan, consider our professional furnace replacement services. Call Topline Heating & Air today at (717) 628-6825.