Advantages of Proper Furnace Maintenance

Your furnace represents a substantial investment, but it pays you back over the years in comfort and, if it’s a reputable brand and you’ve kept it maintained, with reliability. Really, for the relatively small investment it takes for an annual maintenance visit, you can be assured your furnace will most likely last for many, many years, working reliably and efficiently.

Here’s what annual furnace maintenance can do for you:

Efficiency

You want your furnace to use fuel efficiently, so that your bills will be smaller while you’re getting the maximum heat from your equipment. Furnace maintenance helps to ensure that all the parts are working together as they should. For instance, failure to change the air filter regularly can affect air flow, which causes the equipment to struggle, which means it costs you more to operate.

Fewer Repairs, Longer Lifespan

Proper maintenance ensures that your equipment lasts longer, with fewer repairs needed. Potential furnace failures are identified before they turn into bigger problems, saving you money. For instance, a technician will measure gas pressure and air flow, which, if not at the proper level, could create overly hot conditions in the heat exchanger.

When that happens, cracks can develop that emit dangerous gases and will ultimately cause the equipment to be red tagged, or declared unfit for operation. You’ll either have to replace the part (not worth it unless it’s under warranty) or replace the furnace. Your equipment lasts longer when you have a trained eye inspecting it every year to ensure it’s working right.

Safer Operating Conditions

We mentioned the dangers of cracked heat exchangers above. These cracks can develop with the expansion and contraction of metal caused by continuous heating and cooling in the combustion compartment. Your HVAC technician uses special equipment to give the heat exchanger a thorough inspection. The technician will also look for rust — another potential danger, not only for emitting gases, but also for causing a fire.

For more information on how furnace maintenance can benefit you, contact C.R. Wolfe Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ve served Middletown since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482. 

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