Many things in life require maintenance, from home repair to oil changes to trips to the dentist. Keeping up with all of this can be a burden, so you may be wondering: are annual furnace inspections really necessary?
Having your furnace inspected yearly can be done quickly without a big bill, and scheduling a yearly inspection will save you money and stress in the long run. This article will cover how often professionals should inspect a furnace and why annual inspections are necessary.
How Often Should a Furnace be Inspected?
As a general rule of thumb, a gas furnace should be inspected once a year. If you’ve had problems with your furnace in the past, or if it is more than a decade old, you may want to schedule an inspection more frequently.
If you have an oil furnace, you may be wondering: how often should an oil furnace be serviced? The answer is the same; once a year. How often to service propane furnaces? Once a year as well.
You may also be wondering: does my furnace need a tune-up? The terms “inspection” and “tune-up” are often used interchangeably, so a tune-up is only required yearly as well.
Annual inspections involve a thorough review of your furnace to check for proper functioning, leaks, corrosion, safety, and other issues. Sometimes inspections will include a cleaning as well if there is a buildup that needs to be addressed.
Yearly inspections seem to be the sweet spot because one year is not usually enough time for a minor issue to grow into a catastrophic one. Tune-ups should be relatively mild and do not normally uncover big expensive problems.
Why Do Gas Furnaces Require Annual Maintenance?
Gas furnaces require annual maintenance to uncover minor issues, ensure they are functioning effectively and efficiently, and establish that they are operating safely. Yearly maintenance helps you avoid expensive fixes down the road by addressing issues when they surface and preventing them from getting worse over time.
Inspections Keep Your Home Safe
Your furnace is an appliance that carries a fire risk in addition to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. One of the most common ways furnace fires start is dust and dirt buildup.
Improperly maintained furnaces could develop broken venting or other components, which increases the risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Often these issues are not noticeable to homeowners, which is why regular inspections are so important.
While most furnaces have safety guards to prevent leaks or accidents, these safety devices can also break and need to be checked regularly.
Inspections Maintain Your Warranty
Most homeowners think that if their furnace is under warranty, that warranty will cover any problems or repairs. However, most manufacturer warranties require maintenance in the fine print.
If you don’t have your furnace serviced yearly, your warranty may be invalidated and will not help you cover costs when something goes wrong. Furnace inspections will help avoid costly repairs in the first place, but if you do need a repair, regular maintenance will ensure that your warranty will help cover the costs.
Inspections Help You Avoid Expensive Repair Bills
Furnace problems often start as small issues and grow into big repair problems because they were not addressed early. Most furnace breakdowns can be attributed to a lack of maintenance.
Inspectors can quickly and easily address normal wear and tear and build-up of dirt and dust during an inspection to help avoid big repair bills down the road.
Inspections Help Improve Efficiency and Reduce Costs
Heating bills are often the number one monthly household expense in cold climates. Even if your furnace keeps your house warm, poorly maintained systems need to work harder to keep the same consistent temperature. Furnaces that are not running efficiently will use more energy and cost you more money.
While some efficiency issues may not be enough to cause a big jump in your monthly bill, small incremental costs add up over many months or years. A yearly inspection will ensure that your system is running properly and heating your home efficiently.
How Much does a Furnace Inspection Cost?
A furnace tune-up will cost, on average, between $80 and $100. However, this cost can vary depending on your location and if repairs are needed. Many companies offer maintenance plans that can save you money on your annual visit. If you are nearing the winter months in your area, it is a good idea to schedule your fall furnace maintenance today. While it may seem unnecessary to schedule a tune-up when your furnace is working fine, a quick tune-up can work wonders and save you lots of money and stress down the road. Call Paul The Plumber for help with your furnace needs in Derry, NH today!
