3 Things to Know Before Switching to a Smart Thermostat
November 3, 2023
As a homeowner, it’s imperative that you take good care of your household appliances, and your gas furnace is certainly no exception. The winters in Downriver can get extremely chilly, and having a heating system that’s struggling, malfunctioning, or broken down simply won’t do.
Ultimately, if you want to keep your furnace running smoothly, and efficiently at all times, you’ll need to treat it well and be proactive about caring for it. There are several important aspects of furnace upkeep, but none are more beneficial than scheduling professional maintenance.
Most homeowners are aware that furnace maintenance is important, but not everyone knows when or how often they should have the service conducted. Here, we’ll take a look at the benefits of having your gas furnace tuned up and how to choose the right time for it.
Whenever your furnace is running, its various components are accumulating wear and tear. The more frequently you’ve got the heat turned up, the more mileage is being put on the system. Over time, if you don’t have the appliance serviced, the wear and tear will begin to have negative effects. For example, certain parts may break, malfunction, or simply wear out. It’s also likely that the heating system will start to lose energy efficiency or struggle to consistently keep your household warm. In some cases, your furnace may even break down completely, which can be a major headache if it happens in the middle of the freezing winter.
If you stay on top of professional furnace maintenance, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of these problems occurring. During a tune-up, your hired HVAC technician will thoroughly clean your furnace, make any necessary adjustments to the equipment, and inspect the system for any mechanical problems or warning signs of future issues. As a result, the appliance will be more effective, more efficient, and significantly less likely to malfunction or break down. That means your home will be more consistently comfortable, your monthly energy bills will be more affordable, and you’ll avoid pricey repair bills. For these reasons, professional gas furnace maintenance should be viewed as an investment.
There are several factors you should consider when deciding how often to schedule maintenance for your gas furnace. Generally, the average guidelines advise having your heating system tuned up once per year, and that should typically be the bare minimum for every household. However, there are certain circumstances in which a furnace should be serviced even more often than that. The most important factor to consider is the way you use your heater. If you and your family have a tendency to keep the heat cranked way up on a regular basis, then your furnace is most likely taking on much more wear and tear than the average heating system. If you find yourself running your furnace regularly all year long, it’s definitely worth scheduling maintenance twice per year instead of once.
It’s also worth considering whether or not you or anyone in your home has any health concerns. Typically, having your furnace maintained more frequently will result in having cleaner, healthier air around your home. If no one in your household has any respiratory issues, scheduling a tune-up once per year should be sufficient for maintaining good indoor air quality. But if anyone in your family would benefit from having exceptionally clean air, it may be worth having your furnace serviced more regularly. That way, any contaminants that have built up in the appliance will be cleaned out frequently and kept out of the air you’re breathing.
In some cases, your furnace will let you know that it’s the right time to schedule maintenance. If you start to notice any of the following red flags with your heating system, it’s a strong indicator that the unit needs professional attention.
These symptoms may mean that your furnace needs to be repaired, but they could also be letting you know that it’s time for a tune-up. Either way, you’d be wise to schedule an appointment with your local HVAC professionals as soon as possible.
If you decide that one furnace tune-up per year is enough for your household, it makes sense to schedule it around the same each year. That way, you can make it part of your regular routine, and it should be easier to stay on top of. Typically, the ideal time to schedule gas furnace maintenance is during the fall. If you get the service taken care of right before the temperature outside starts to drop significantly, you should get the best results from your heating system when you need them the most.
Generally, a furnace will be at its most effective and efficient right after it’s received a professional tune-up. That means if you schedule maintenance during autumn, the appliance should have no problem keeping you warm and cozy all winter long. Plus, because it will be running at peak efficiency, your monthly electricity costs shouldn’t get out of hand, even when it’s freezing outside and you’re running the heater frequently. Finally, you’ll be minimizing the chances of your furnace malfunctioning or breaking down at the most inconvenient time.
Ultimately, there’s not necessarily a wrong time to schedule a tune-up for your gas furnace. Usually, though, you’ll enjoy the best overall results if you get the service taken care of shortly before the chilly Michigan winter kicks into gear.
When you’re ready to schedule gas furnace maintenance for your Downriver home, you can’t go wrong by calling Flo-Aire Heating, Cooling & Electrical. Our skilled heating technicians will have your furnace running like new again, and they’ll get it done promptly and for a great price. If you have any questions or you’re ready to schedule an appointment, just give our offices a call today at (734) 285-1809 to get started!
Locally owned and operated in Southgate, MI since 1955, Flo-Aire Heating, Cooling & Electrical is one of the top heating & cooling companies in Southeast Michigan. Flo-Aire provides residential, commercial and industrial HVAC services throughout all of Metro Detroit.
