Are furnace maintenance plans worth it
3 Reasons Why Furnace Maintenance is Key
Hopefully you had a full furnace inspection at the end of this past fall in anticipation of the winter, but even if you didn’t, it’s never too late. Staying on top of furnace maintenance is extremely important in order to keep your unit operating at peak capacity . Check out these three main reasons why you need regular upkeep on your furnace unit.
1. Prevent the Need for Repairs
If you let your furnace go without providing the basic TLC it needs, you could be doing more damage than you think. You may assume you’re saving money by not hiring a professional to provide an inspection, but you could end up spending a lot more money down the road. In fact, you could end up shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars on unnecessary repairs. Maintenance isn’t nearly as costly as those unexpected repairs, plus you can easily budget for maintenance; for repairs? Not so much. Not only do you risk a hit to the wallet, you risk the safety of your family because cracks can allow deadly carbon monoxide into the home. Your HVAC professional will check for the following:
- Cracks in the combustion chamber
- Inadequate airflow
- Improper ventilation
- Inadequate gas pressure
- Malfunctioning safety devices
Just keep in mind that this risk comes only with oil and gas furnaces; electrical furnaces do not produce carbon monoxide.
Another drawback to lack of maintenance is that you reduce the life span of your unit when you allow wear and tear to occur.
2. Guarantee Efficient Handling
Another big reason to keep up with regular furnace maintenance is to keep your unit running efficiently. When you neglect basic maintenance, such as changing or cleaning filters, you minimize its effectiveness. Clogged and dirty filters, for example, have to work harder to reach the same comfort level you’ve been used to. You end up paying more on energy bills. Having an HVAC professional inspect and clean your furnace means you can ensure peak efficiency.
3. Save $$$
The average maintenance inspection for a furnace is about $100. This is an affordable way to keep your furnace in tip-top shape. Compare that to the cost of a whole new unit, which ranges from $2000 to $10,000, which factors into the cost not only for replacement but removal of the old broken unit. Ouch. That’s a lot of cash. Sounds like a no-brainer to keep up with maintenance than to shell out that much money for a replacement. One aspect many people don’t consider is that avoiding regular maintenance by a licensed professional may void the manufacturer's warranty. So, if you need a repair somewhere down the line and the unit hasn’t been regularly inspected by a professional, you will be responsible for footing the bill.
Keep up with those filter changes by ordering in bulk from Filtration Montreal. Remember: we often can ship same day and it’s FREE!