All You Need to Know About Furnace Maintenance

From the cost of a tune-up, to the benefits of a maintenance contract, here is everything you wanted to know when it comes to furnace maintenance services.

Furnace Tune Up Costs Covers

Inspection & cleaning.  A legitimate tune-up follows ACCA’s globally recognized standards to ensure a thorough inspection and cleaning of the air filter, blower motor, and other parts that can slow your HVAC system down. Repair recommendations.  In addition to a thorough inspection and cleaning of your heating system, you can trust Bluflame’s technicians to bring potential issues to your attention. When you schedule furnace maintenance, you have the option of paying for a single maintenance visit or given the choice to enroll in a “maintenance contract.”  The main benefits of a maintenance plan are the discounted services, courtesy service reminders and priority scheduling when you need service.

Signs Your Furnace Needs a Tune Up

If you are one of the many who faithfully schedule their annual furnace maintenance, the following warning signs should not be a concern.  However, if you have neglected to have your heating system professionally cleaned and inspected from top to bottom, the following are signs you need a furnace tune up – maybe even replacement if equipment is over 15 years old. Heat Bills are Ridiculous. Heating your home uses more energy and costs more money than any other system in your home — typically making up about 40% of your utility bill. Therefore, when it comes to ways to save money on heat bills, furnace maintenance tops the list.  Now, because your home may be bigger, smaller, more or less active, better insulated, etc., this number may not be an accurate gauge to determine if your heat bills are ridiculous.  However, if you have not had your furnace cleaned in years, you can bet they are higher. You Need Frequent Furnace Repairs. Well-maintained equipment should not need frequent furnace repairs. If you are calling for furnace repair services a few times a year, a head to toe inspection and cleaning of your furnace should resolve these ongoing repairs. Common furnace troubles like short cycling or your furnace leaking water is frequently due to lack of maintenance and is a good indicator that something clogged the condensate drain and/or the air filter. BluFlame provides a full-system diagnostic with furnace repairs. Which means similar to a furnace tune-up, when we repair your furnace, we scan the system top to bottom to identify the problem and identify any related parts that may be close to failure. Furnace is Making Strange Noises. Strange sounds when you turn your home’s heating system on are an indicator something needs adjustment and/or a repair.  Whether it’s a worn out fan belt or a part that needs oil, a high quality tune up a should cover a laundry list of important tasks such as cleaning & tightening electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, inspecting fan motor and blower assembly.

Benefits of Furnace Maintenance

Lower Heating Bills.  Routine furnace maintenance ensures your heating system runs at top efficiency, costing less to operate.  In fact, according to Energy.gov’s heating tips, furnace maintenance combined with equipment upgrades, recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill. Prevents emergency repairs.  Preventative maintenance catches potential issues before they become an emergency.  Emergency furnace repairs are disruptive, costly, and can be avoided with an annual tune-up. Longer furnace lifespan.  Over time, the parts of your furnace will wear out, snap, and crack however, failure to maintain your equipment accelerates this and leads to premature furnace failure. Keeps warranties intact.  Whether your furnace is new or aging but still under an extended warranty, annual furnace maintenance is required to keep manufacturer warranties intact. Skipping a tune-up could result in a lapse of coverage, which means if something goes wrong, you could be on your own because you have not had it professionally cleaned every year. The benefits of routine furnace maintenance are endless, and the cost of a furnace tune-up is well worth the money. Call BluFlame to schedule your next HVAC system maintenance.