Whether you conduct an inspection of your furnace yourself or you recruit the help of an HVAC servicing company, routine maintenance of your furnace is absolutely essential. This appliance is required in many climates for living comfortably in one’s home, and when it goes on the fritz everybody feels it. But you can be proactive about minimizing the risk of damage, breakages and failures by simply conducting some routine care on your furnace.
It Keeps Everything in Working Order
There are over 100 components inside of your furnace, most (if not all) of which can become broken or fall into disrepair. When one of these critical elements of your home’s heating system fails to work, and especially if it limits the airflow that the furnace needs to function, the appliance will not work like it is supposed to. In fact, it might not work at all.
Routine service from yourself or from an accredited HVAC repair and maintenance company will note any small problems and address them before they can become big, expensive fixes.
It Reduces Your Energy Costs
Above, we mentioned how diminished airflow can compromise your furnace’s ability to heat your home as it should. This doesn’t only make your home colder, but it also makes your wallet lighter as you end up pouring more cash into your utility bills. When an appliance of this nature struggles to achieve its purpose, it uses up more energy in an attempt to do what it is designed for. When the furnace requires more power to run, or frequently clicks on and then off, it’s wasting a huge amount of energy that will cost you in the short and long-term if left on its own.
It Protects In-Home Air Quality
The filter on your furnace is designed to trap airborne debris and particles that can cause damage in two ways:
- By getting inside of the HVAC system
- By releasing into the air where it can affect overall air quality and the health of those breathing in that air
These particles can include irritants that agitate asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems. Additionally, they just make for a less-than-healthy breathing experience for everybody in your home. When you get your HVAC filters serviced, or clean/replace them yourself, it ensures that the filter will be able to continue trapping these irritants and keeping them out of your furnace and out of your air. Ensure that the filters are changed and the right MERV rated furnace filters are used.
Carbon monoxide can also be released into the air from a furnace if the ventilation system is not working adequately. Carbon monoxide poisoning leads to a series of nasty side effects, up to and including death. When a professional looks over the components of your furnace, they’ll be able to give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that this odorless gas is not posing any kind of risk of harm to you or your family.
Your furnace plays an important role in your home and in your life, and as such an important appliance it should be treated as such. Routine, even simple annual, maintenance will prevent a host of expensive and even dangerous problems down the line.
