Most people don’t think twice about their home heater or furnace system until it fails, and by then, the damage can be expensive to repair. Routine system maintenance is crucial to keeping your furnace in the best shape and for extending its lifespan. However, should you find yourself in a dire situation when your furnace has failed, you can count on the experts at Performance Based Heating & Air for efficient and affordable repairs.
Read through our case studies to find out how we’ve helped customers like you.
How Often Do You Need a Heater Tune-Up?
Depending on how cold it gets in winter, the average homeowner pushes their furnace day and night to maintain a comfortable temperature. Several months of hard work can take a toll on your furnace, which means it will need a little TLC to make sure it’s ready to go the next time you need it.
While many people scoff at the idea of heater tune-ups, consider that most of us change the oil in our cars religiously and check the brakes, tire pressure, and fluids. Regular maintenance keeps your machines running in top form and allows you to find minor problems and fix them now before they grow into expensive headaches later.
Most experts agree that it’s prudent to schedule a furnace tune-up at least once a year, preferably in the fall. It’s also important to remember that many furnace warranties require routine maintenance for the warranty to remain valid.
What to Expect from Furnace Maintenance & Tune-ups
Regular maintenance and checkups ensure that your furnace is working correctly. They save you money by fixing those minor issues before they become something that causes system failure. While there are things you can do to keep your furnace in top running form, it’s always wise to call a pro to give your system a thorough inspection. A qualified technician will:
- Check the vent system for blockages or leaks.
- Check the combustion gasses and ensure they meet the unit specs.
- Check the blower access door to make sure it’s sealed tight.
- Check the burners for proper ignition.
- Check the fresh air intake grills to ensure unrestricted airflow.
- Check the heat exchanger for rust or corrosion.
- Check the drainage system for blockages and leaks.
- Check the wiring for damage.
- Check the blower wheel and blower motor for proper function.
If you’ve never scheduled a tune-up, now is the perfect time to start. Contact us at 209-588-7340!
Signs You Need a Heating Replacement
Most people would love it if their furnaces or heaters would last forever, and while you can do much to extend the lifespan of your system, eventually, it requires replacing. Here are the most common signs that your heater is failing and that you should begin planning to upgrade to a new model.
- Age – The average heater or furnace lasts about 15 years, and after that time, you should plan on replacing sooner rather than later.
- It Makes Strange Sounds – All heaters and furnaces make noise during operation, powering up and powering down. However, if you suddenly hear noises you’ve not heard before, like grinding, squealing, or banging, turn the system off and call a technician ASAP.
- Constant Resetting – If you constantly have to reset your furnace instead of setting the thermostat and leaving it, it’s a sign that the system isn’t working properly and could be nearing the end of its useful life.
- Lack of Hot Air – If your heater isn’t putting out the heat it used to, no matter how you adjust the thermostat, it signals a problem that may require you to upgrade to a newer system.
- High Heating Bills – As your heater or furnace ages, it loses efficiency, which means it uses more energy to do the same job it used to. Using more power leads to higher energy bills, so if you notice your heating bills rising, look to your furnace as the culprit.
