How Often Do I Need To Perform Maintenance On My Furnace?

The best way to extend the life of your HVAC system is to have it undergo an annual inspection from a professional, licensed contracting company. A properly running system will help cut down on energy bills and ensure that it’s also operating safely.

When To Perform Maintenance On Your Furnace

The most common time for furnace inspections in the Greater Toronto Area is in the fall before the long, cold Canadian winter arrives. If you have air conditioning, you may want to have that inspected just before the summer months.  An HVAC system is much like an automobile in the sense that it needs some fine-tuning to keep it running as efficiently and effectively as possible. If it’s ignored, things may start to break down and the repair bills could quickly add up, not to mention the energy bills.

An Ounce Of Prevention

Many HVAC service calls are due to unmaintained furnaces and air conditioning units. But along with suffering from a lack of heat in the dead of winter, an un-serviced unit can lead to health hazards since carbon monoxide leaks may go undetected if the system isn’t inspected. Many homeowners may not know their system is leaking since the gas is booth odourless and colourless. A carbon monoxide leak can cause nausea, dizziness, headaches, and even prove to be fatal. Whether the furnace is electric or gas, it may operate less efficiently if it isn’t properly maintained. This can cause the system to work harder and that will result in higher energy costs.

How Much Does a Furnace Tune Up Cost?

The cost of a fall inspection or tune up will depend on the company performing it as the prices will vary. In fact, different HVAC firms will have different definitions of what an inspection consists of. It’s always a good idea to contact the company first to see exactly what type of maintenance will be performed on the furnace during the tune up. This way you’ll be able to choose the firm which offers the most for the money. In general, higher-priced inspections will be more detailed and will include a furnace cleaning and the controls will be checked for safety issues. Other items that should be inspected include the thermostat, electrical connections and components, vents, burner, intake grills, blower, filter, condensate drain, heat exchanger and the lubrication of moving parts.
An HVAC system is pretty complex and the service company doing the inspection and tune up should be properly licensed, bonded, and insured. However, you can also do your own part throughout the year to keep the system running as smoothly as possible. This includes changing the filter regularly as the air flow will be restricted if the filter is clogged. You may also want to use a programmable thermostat since this can also help reduce energy costs. A programmable thermostat allows homeowners to lower the temperature setting automatically while they’re sleeping or when nobody’s home etc.

Extend The Life Of Your Furnace

Homeowners also need to realize that new furnaces also need to be maintained on a regular basis, not just old systems. Also, if the furnace isn’t maintained it may void the manufacturer’s warranty. This is why you should keep a service record of each annual tune up or inspection as proof of proper maintenance habits.

For more information on furnaces and air conditioning units and their required preventative maintenance in the Greater Toronto Area, please contact our professional team of technicians at Lloyd HVAC Services.