How Frequently Should You Service Your Furnace?

September 30, 2020

Between pro lawn care and raking, you typically do a variety of tasks to prepare your yard for cooler temps. Inside your home, your furnace is similar. It also calls for tune-ups to keep it operating smoothly throughout the fall and winter.

But how often should you tune up your furnace in West Columbia? What if it’s newer? Or heating well? Is maintenance necessary then? Let’s review why furnace maintenance is necessary and how often you should schedule it.

Why Furnace Tune-Ups are Needed

Your furnace is essential to keeping your house cozy during the winter. When it’s frequently tuned up, you’ll have worry-free, efficient warmth. If you often neglect tune-ups, your furnace can accumulate dirt. This can cause your furnace to work harder and, as a result, enlarge your gas expenses. Skipping service could also lead your furnace to break down, sticking you with pricey repair bills that could have been preventable in a lot of outcomes.

One of the most important things you can do on your own is consistently replacing your furnace’s air filter. When your filter gets dusty, your furnace might start reacting by doing something referred to as short cycling, where it flips on and off more often to stop overheating. In addition to affecting your heating expenses, it also decreases your furnace’s lifetime since it’s on more frequently.

If you have a flat filter, we suggest replacing it at the very least every 30 days. Pleated filters can work up to three months. A simple way to determine whether you need to get a fresh filter is by pulling it out and holding it up to the light. If you don’t notice light through it, you’re due to replace it.

However, how frequently you should change your filter depends on how regularly your furnace runs, if you have pets and if anyone in your household has allergies. The Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. technicians can help if you’re unsure how frequently you should get a new filter or what the right type is for your home.

How Regularly You Need Furnace Maintenance

We recommend doing furnace maintenance in West Columbia once a year, ideally during the time between air conditioning and heating season. This will offer you a head start in case you require any repairs and will verify you enjoy stress-free heating throughout the winter. It also keeps your manufacturer’s warranty ongoing, which is essential if you just got a new furnace.

Apart from getting a clean air filter and keeping your register grates free of buildup, we don’t recommend trying furnace maintenance yourself. Your furnace is a complex piece of equipment that requires assistance from a heating and cooling professional. All our friendly Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc. pros have gone through comprehensive courses to better serve you. They’re also fully licensed and insured, providing you peace of mind that your heating system is in experienced hands.

Here are some of services we’ll do on our maintenance visit:

  • Inspect critical pieces of your furnace, including the heat exchanger, blower and burner.
  • Clean the inner parts of your furnace, in addition to the flame sensor, burner and blower.
  • Check the flue to ensure it’s venting properly.
  • Examine total furnace operation for safety and ideal heat.

Now is a great time to schedule your furnace maintenance appointment with Tri City Fuel & Heating Co., Inc.. Our specialists are here to help you have a stress-free winter with energy-efficient warmth. Contact us at 803-265-4208 to set your appointment now, and remember to check our offers for special discounts on your future maintenance appointment.