When the temperatures drop in Fort Wayne, your furnace is what keeps your home feeling like home. A little regular maintenance goes a long way in making sure it runs smoothly, avoids costly breakdowns, and keeps your family comfortable all season.
In this blog post, Doc Dancer Plumbing, Heating, AC & Generators explains the importance of furnace maintenance, covers important routine furnace maintenance habits with your heating system, and answers the burning question: How often do you need it?
When Should I Have My Furnace Serviced?
Furnace maintenance should be scheduled at least once per year to keep your heating system running efficiently and prevent potential breakdowns. It’s highly recommended to schedule your annual maintenance appointment before the cold months when your furnace will be in regular use.
The prime heating season (aka, those chilly months when you crank up the heat higher) is exactly when you don’t want to be worrying over your furnace maintenance checklist. Most homeowners in the Fort Wayne area take care of this task in the early fall during September or October.
Why is Furnace Maintenance Important?
Having your furnace serviced every year by HVAC professionals is a crucial step in safeguarding your home’s comfort and your wallet. And yes, it involves so much more than changing out an old filter and wiping down the furnace doors! Here’s why all furnaces need this vital service:
Improved Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
Well-maintained furnaces operate at peak performance, reducing energy consumption and saving you money on heating bills. While you might be dreading scheduling a furnace maintenance call, your heating system’s efficiency makes a big difference in those bills in the long run.
Annual furnace inspections include a thorough furnace cleaning and adjustment of its components to ensure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible. When your furnace is at the top of its game, so to speak, it requires less energy to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.
If you schedule regular maintenance, you’re setting yourself up to save money when the temperatures drop.
Prolonged Lifespan
Just as regular check-ups with your doctor can help you live a longer, healthier life, regular furnace tune-ups from an HVAC technician can extend the life of your heating system and keep it operating at peak efficiency for as long as possible.
During a furnace maintenance visit, our technicians inspect, clean, and lubricate key components to keep your system in top shape. That means checking the blower motor, blower shaft bearings, and blower blades inside the blower compartment, as well as testing the power switch, flame sensor, and gas valve. We’ll also ensure you have a clean furnace by brushing and vacuuming the combustion chamber, inspecting the burner flames, and clearing the flue pipe.
Fewer Breakdowns and Costly Repairs
Sometimes small furnace issues—like a flickering pilot light or a clogged filter—can be caught early before they turn into costly emergency repairs. With yearly maintenance, technicians can spot and fix these problems right away, keeping your system running at its best. A well-maintained furnace is far less likely to face unexpected breakdowns, helping you avoid expensive repair bills and the stress of a system that quits when you need it most.
Enhanced Safety
A thorough furnace inspection can uncover safety concerns like gas leaks, mold buildup, faulty electrical connections, or a cracked heat exchanger. These issues don’t just affect your heating—they can compromise your home’s indoor air quality with dust, strange odors, or even harmful exhaust gases. Technicians also check for problems such as leaky air ducts, gas pipe issues, or clogged furnace filters that restrict airflow. Addressing concerns early keeps your family safe, and a well-maintained furnace lowers the risk of fires and other hazards—making furnace maintenance an essential part of your home check-ups.
How to Care for Your Furnace Between Tune-Ups
While these furnace maintenance tips will certainly help, keep in mind that they don’t replace regular furnace maintenance from an HVAC company. Still, here are a few easy things you can do between service appointments:
- Change the Air Filter: Swap out a dirty filter every 1–3 months to prevent poor airflow and indoor air quality.
- Keep the Area Clear: Make sure the space around your furnace is clutter-free. Good airflow and ventilation are critical for safe operation.
- Monitor Your Thermostat: Double-check your thermostat settings to be sure they match your comfort needs. If you have a programmable model, set it to match your daily routine for better comfort and lower utility bills.
- Use Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Place detectors in your home to protect your family from hidden furnace issues. If a problem arises, you’ll be alerted right away and can call for service before it becomes an emergency.
The best thing you can do? You guessed it: schedule an annual professional inspection with our team!
Knowing When It’s Time for a Furnace Replacement
Despite regular maintenance, there comes a point when your furnace’s age and condition make a furnace replacement more cost-effective than continued maintenance and repairs. If you start to notice higher-than-normal energy bills or inconsistent heating in your home, it may be time for a new furnace. Check out this blog post for more warning signs that your furnace is on its last legs.
If you’ve decided to replace your old electric or natural gas furnace, you can count on Doc Dancer’s skilled HVAC technicians to professionally install a new, more energy-efficient model. We’ll guide you through the entire process, from selecting the right furnace to performing a fast and hassle-free installation. There’s a reason why we’re the top choice for furnace installation in Fort Wayne, IN!
Doc Dancer’s HVAC Maintenance Plans Save You Time and Money
HVAC system maintenance plans are an invaluable asset for any homeowner, whether you’re determined to maximize the longevity of your older furnace or protect your investment in a new model. At Doc Dancer, we know first-hand the importance of regular maintenance for our customers’ systems and our own, and that’s why we’ve crafted our Safety & Efficiency Agreement (S.E.A.) to offer you a wide range of benefits:
- Preferred Customer Status: Enjoy priority service, including 24-hour emergency support, placing you ahead of non-SEA customers.
- Lower Pricing for Routine Maintenance: Benefit from our most competitive rates for routine furnace and AC service.
- Discounts: Receive a 15% discount on parts and labor for heating and cooling services.
- No Overtime Charges: In the event of a breakdown after hours, you’ll only be billed regular labor rates.
- Lower Monthly Energy Costs: Your equipment is guaranteed to operate more efficiently, resulting in significant savings on your monthly energy bills.
- Scheduling Convenience: Rest easy knowing that we’ll reach out to you to schedule professional maintenance at a time that suits your schedule.
And it’s not just your furnace—we’ll give you the same great service for your air conditioning system too. You can learn more on our website or talk with our team about signing up.
Schedule Your Furnace Maintenance Appointment with Doc Dancer Today
The advantages of annual HVAC maintenance are truly undeniable! At Doc Dancer Plumbing, Heating, AC & Generators, we’re here to make this critical process more convenient and cost-effective for you. Don’t wait until winter is in full swing—schedule your furnace maintenance now and experience the comfort and peace of mind that comes with a well-maintained heating system. Make sure you ask about our annual maintenance plans!