When fall rolls around and the weather starts to cool down, it's important that you remember to make your yearly heating system maintenance appointment. Since we use our HVAC system almost every day — depending on your climate — it is easy to take it for granted. However, should your furnace break down during an especially cold winter day, you’ll likely have to call for an emergency repair.
To avoid any emergency situations and keep your furnace running, you should schedule yearly maintenance every fall. In this article, we’ll be discussing some of the problems you could run into if you don’t service your furnace each year. So, schedule your fall maintenance today before you find yourself in any of these following situations:
Furnace Shutdown
Without your fall heating system maintenance, you could end up in an emergency situation
The first and most obvious consequence of skipping your yearly heating system maintenance is a complete furnace shutdown. A shutdown will usually happen when your furnace is operating at a high capacity, which means the middle of the winter. In places with cold winter climates, living without heat even for a short period of time is impossible. In some cases, homeowners will have to stay elsewhere until heat is restored. Not to mention, HVAC technicians are usually busy in the wintertime, so it may be more difficult to schedule your repair. To avoid this potential scenario, make sure to schedule your yearly maintenance ahead of time.
Frozen and Burst Pipes
If you skip your heating system maintenance, you could end up with expensive repairs from a burst pipe
If your furnace completely shuts down, it not only affects your home comfort — it also affects your plumbing. That’s right, should your furnace stop working on a cold winter day, your pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting. When your pipes freeze, not only will you be unable to use any of the affected appliances like your dishwasher, sinks, showers, and toilets — but your pipe is also likely to burst. When a pipe bursts it often causes expensive flooding damage in your home. When you start to spot signs of frozen pipes, an easy way to prevent this kind of damage in your home is by hiring a technician to properly maintain and service your furnace.
Carbon Monoxide Leaks
An improperly maintained furnace can leak dangerous carbon monoxide over time
Your gas furnace has a device called a heat exchanger that is designed to remove harmful gases from the air that travels into your living spaces. Over time, this device can break down from the near constant expansion and contraction due to sudden temperature changes. When you skip a yearly furnace maintenance appointment, cracks can begin to form in the heat exchanger. As these cracks form, carbon monoxide begins to leak into your air vents. Since carbon monoxide is so deadly and undetectable to our senses, it is all the more important to ensure that your heat exchanger is working properly every year.
Accidental Fire
When your furnace begins to break down, it becomes more susceptible to accidental fire
Just like any other appliance in your home, if your furnace isn't maintained properly you are putting yourself at risk of a home fire. If a gas or electrical connection comes loose, there is a risk of an accidental ignition. A technician performing a yearly inspection will be able to quickly identify and fix any loose connections, cutting down your risk of potential fire.
Noticeably Worse Home Air Quality
Worsening home air quality is a good sign that your furnace is in need of maintenance
Part of maintaining your furnace is replacing the air filter. Though many homeowners replace their filters themselves, a skilled technician can also easily replace your air filter during your yearly maintenance. Should you neglect your furnace completely, dust and dirt will build up in your air filters. As more debris collects in the air filters your home air quality will start to slowly worsen.
Shorter Furnace Lifespan
Yearly maintenance will help you avoid paying for a premature furnace replacement
In most cases well maintained furnaces greatly outlast and outperform poorly maintained ones. So, if you want to get the most out of your furnace, you should schedule your yearly heating system maintenance. Furnaces normally last for 15 to 20 years, so if you’re experiencing issues with a newer furnace, it is likely because it hasn't been properly maintained.
At Restano Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we can address any HVAC related issues in your home as we move into the colder seasons. We only complete repair work using experienced, licensed technicians who use professional equipment that meets our standards. So, give us a call today and let us make sure your heating and cooling system is running properly.
