If you’ve recently replaced your old HVAC equipment or bought your first home, you probably have some questions about your new heating system. Like a car, your heating system requires routine maintenance to function safely, correctly, and efficiently. Below, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions from our customers about furnace care and maintenance.
What are the benefits of preventative maintenance for my heater?
Routine, preventative maintenance has the following benefits:
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You’ll have a lower risk of a dangerous natural gas or carbon monoxide leak. (This applies to gas- and oil-burning furnaces.)
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Your system will run more efficiently and use less energy, which means it will cost you less to use it.
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The equipment will suffer less wear-and-tear and will usually last longer than without maintenance.
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You can catch small issues with your system before they become big, expensive ones.
Will my heater work without preventative maintenance?
Your heater can run for many years without preventative maintenance. That being said, it will build up a lot of dust and grime in the meantime, which will lower its efficiency, and it will be much more susceptible to a malfunction due to loose, worn-out parts. As time goes on, the money that you try to save by skipping basic maintenance can be gobbled up by high energy bills and expensive repairs that you could have avoided.
Is it dangerous to skip heater maintenance?
It can be very dangerous to skip heater maintenance, particularly if you own a furnace that burns a combustible fuel (like oil or gas). Furnaces that burn combustible fuels emit carbon monoxide. When the system functions correctly, the toxic gas is vented outside your home, where it won’t harm you. If a crack forms in your furnace’s venting system or heat exchanger, this can expose you to carbon monoxide poisoning. During a heater maintenance appointment, our technicians inspect your heating system for these issues to protect you.
How often does my heater require professional maintenance?
Experts recommend getting your heater serviced once a year. The best time to schedule maintenance is right before you’ll use the equipment extensively, so fall is typically ideal. Before the heater goes through heavy use, you want a technician to spot any potential problems before they get worse and gear the equipment up to run as efficiently (and cost-effectively) as possible.
How often should I replace the air filter?
Between service appointments, you will most definitely need to replace your air filter on your own. If the air filter gets too dirty, it will block airflow through your system, leading to multiple problems, the least of which is decreased efficiency.
How often you replace the filter depends on the filter’s manufacturer requirements. Most disposable filters last up to 90 days. However, it’s wise to check on your filter according to the following schedule to make sure that it isn’t clogged with dust before three months are up:
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After the first 30 days
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Once more, after the first 45 days
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Weekly after that until 90 days are up
Comprehensive, Worry-Free Heater Maintenance
At Premier Indoor Comfort Systems, LLC, we make HVAC system maintenance hassle-free for our customers with our Excellence Service Plan. With this plan, you get all the benefits of routine heating and air conditioning maintenance, plus exclusive discounts and our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
To schedule your maintenance appointment or to learn more about our service plan, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (770) 268-2422 or contact us online today!