You probably don’t think about your furnace very often. You set the thermostat and wait for it to turn on and fill your home with warm air. When something goes wrong, though, that laid-back attitude goes out the window. Your mind may suddenly be preoccupied with thoughts of how to get it running again — and fast!
Don’t let yourself get to that point this winter. Instead, schedule a furnace maintenance appointment in the St. Louis area. You’ll find that there are multiple benefits to planning ahead with an annual furnace tune-up each autumn.
Detect Problems Early
The above scenario is exactly what a furnace tune-up is designed to avoid. A maintenance visit gives our technicians the chance to check out every part of your system. If any of them are wearing out or not working quite right, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a repair right away. We may even be able to address the issue during your tune-up appointment.
Prompt repairs are good for multiple reasons. For one thing, problems caught early often require much simpler fixes. That will save you both time and money compared to putting off repairs and letting them get worse. Plus, you’re less likely to experience a nonoperational furnace in the middle of winter if our techs have remedied your system’s small issues at the beginning of the season.
Improve Efficiency
Cleaning and lubrication are two key tasks that we handle during furnace maintenance visits. Dirty filters and coils make the furnace work harder to push air through the system and warm it. When the motor bearings and other moving parts aren’t well-oiled, your system will be fighting against friction as it operates. These issues reduce the efficiency of your system.
Inefficient furnaces require more energy to operate. That’s not good for the environment. Scheduling a maintenance visit will help you be a more eco-conscious homeowner.
Reduce Heating Costs
Inefficiency isn’t just bad for the earth. It’s also a problem for your heating bills. The more energy your system demands, the more money you will have to pay your utility company each month.
If you want to keep your operating costs down, then have your system serviced at the beginning of the season. You may soon recoup the price of the maintenance call.
Clear the Air
A dirty, dusty heating system won’t do a great job of circulating clean, fresh air throughout your home. Rather, the air may pick up some of that dust and distribute it to the far corners of your house. You’ll breathe some of it in, too.
During an inspection, you will receive a new filter for your furnace. A fresh filter will be more effective at trapping particles from the air so that they will no longer be in circulation. The technician will also clear away any dirt and dust from the other parts of your furnace.
This can make a difference in your health. With cleaner indoor air to breathe, you and your family may experience fewer allergy symptoms this winter.
Also, dusty HVAC systems tend to deposit dust around the supply vents in your rooms. Keeping your furnace clean could eliminate this pesky problem.
Extend Your System’s Life
On average, furnaces last at least 15 years, and some are good for several decades. Major repair issues can cut short a furnace’s lifespan, though. If your system experiences a serious breakdown, you may find yourself needing to replace it after less than a decade. When the repair bill total is 50% or more of the cost of a new system, replacement is often advisable.
By catching problems early, you can often avoid such hefty repair costs. You’ll be less likely to face the decision of whether to repair or replace your unit.
Instead, our techs may be able to keep your system going year after year. We’ll fix little issues as they crop up. That might include replacing a belt, unclogging a drain line or switching out a failing ignitor. Plus, our efforts to keep your system clean may put less wear and tear on the components. When your furnace doesn’t have to work so hard to produce warm air, the parts may hold up better.
When the time comes for a replacement furnace in St. Louis, Level 9 Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing will be there for you, but there’s no need to rush things. Regular maintenance can help you get as many years as possible from your current system.
Stay Safe All Winter
Your furnace is one of the most important appliances in your home. It can also be one of the riskiest. A malfunctioning furnace could allow carbon monoxide to leak into your house. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas, and it can easily go undetected. It’s clear, and it produces no odor. You’ll want to do everything you can to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
One key preventative is to install carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home. In addition, you should commit to annual furnace inspections. Our heating technicians will carefully look over your system to ensure that it’s still in good shape. We’ll check for heat exchanger cracks, blower motor problems and other issues that could lead to carbon monoxide trouble. If we find any cause for concern, we’ll let you know and provide information about the safest next steps.
Follow Through With Warranty Obligations
If your furnace is on the newer side, it may still be under warranty. Hopefully, you won’t need to make any warranty claims. If you do, though, the manufacturer may ask for proof that you’ve held up your end of the deal. One of the most common requirements is annual maintenance care. You’re more likely to have your claims covered if you’ve had a technician perform a tune-up each fall.
Save on Service
For homeowners who are serious about regular system maintenance, it makes sense to sign up for a maintenance plan. At Level 9 Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing, we offer Comfort Club Memberships for residential and commercial property owners. If you sign up for this service, you can save on heating and cooling care throughout the year.
For one thing, your membership will include a tune-up for both your furnace and air conditioning each year. You’ll also get one free filter. If a repair situation arises, you’ll benefit from priority scheduling, a discount on the trip charge and a discount on the repair fee.
Of course, you can choose furnace maintenance even if you don’t belong to a membership program. However, joining a program helps to ensure that you’ll make tune-ups a priority each year. Plus, you’ll benefit from the additional perks that your membership has to offer.
Level 9 Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing not only offers maintenance service for furnaces but for air conditioners as well. We also do heating and cooling repairs and installations for both residential and commercial properties. Because your comfort is important to us, we offer plumbing services, too. Our community knows that we’re the experts in home care. We have received an Expertise.com award for our St. Louis HVAC services, and we value giving back to local causes.
To discuss furnace maintenance or other home needs, call Level 9 Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing in Des Peres today!
