You rely on your heating system to keep you cozy and warm through the freezing winter months. However, many people wonder if heating system maintenance is important with a unit that seems to be working as it should. Why service your heating system if there’s nothing broken about it?
Even if your heater is simply doing its job and heating your home, it could have underlying problems that you can catch by frequently maintaining it. Not only does maintenance stop problems in their tracks, but it also prevents them from happening in the first place.
So many expensive HVAC breakdowns can be prevented with maintenance checkups. Here is why you should never put off heating system maintenance, even if you don’t suspect any issues!
Your Heater is Important
A properly maintained heater is important for many things, one of them being your comfort. One event you want to prevent by servicing your heating system is a breakdown on the coldest day of the year.
With so many of us working from home, it’s more important than ever to be comfortable throughout the day. Staying warm is essential for staying safe in the winter. When you have to wear a coat in the house, it can be hard or impossible to go about your normal daily activities.
Why Service Your Heating System ASAP?
Servicing your heating system in the early fall (before it gets too cold) is a key tip for peace of mind all winter long. We recommend this as the best way to be prepared for the winter chill and avoid having to wait around for busy contractors. By making early plans, you’ll prevent issues from arising and ensure the safety of your family as well as yourself.
Why is it so important to maintain your heating system ASAP? We advise regular heating system maintenance for lighter energy bills, saved expenses, better indoor air quality, and most importantly, your safety.
Maintenance Saves You Money
The cost of energy is increasing daily, overwhelming many households. Fortunately, there are measures you can take to protect yourself against this price rise.
A great first step to reduce energy costs is simply using less power. Making sure all of your appliances, including your heater, are energy-efficient is the greatest way to achieve this. Water and space heating take up around 44% of American household energy costs.
The best way to reduce your long-term heating costs is to get annual maintenance. Your unit’s efficiency will decline over time if it is not properly maintained, which can result in excessive energy costs.
In addition to a machine that is merely dirty, there are other issues that could cost you a pretty penny. The heated air may escape from your heating system through leaky ducts before it reaches the intended rooms. A 20% duct leak can make your units work 50% harder. A professional can identify and solve this problem before it gets out of hand.
Your thermostat is one element of your heating system that can be malfunctioning. If it’s off, you might unintentionally set temperatures that result in higher monthly costs. Before winter arrives each year, having your entire heating system checked by a professional will help you identify issues like these before they become financially unmanageable.
Service Your Heating System to Improve Indoor Air Quality
A neglected heating system can be very dangerous for your indoor air quality (IAQ). Whether it’s poor air circulation, dirt in the air, or risky emissions, it’s extremely important to make sure your system is safe every single year.
It’s important to replace your filters every month in the winter season to prevent dust from flying into your air. During your annual tune-up with Live Free, we clean your system and replace the filter so you can start fresh with the new season.
10+-year-old furnaces might significantly harm your indoor air quality. The likelihood that your heating and cooling systems are not properly circulating the air within your home increases with their age. Get heating system maintenance at least once a year for the duration of your heater’s life, and when it’s over a decade old or requires several repairs, think about replacing it.
The risk of carbon monoxide contamination from gas and oil furnaces is higher if they are old or haven’t been maintained. This is something you do not want to roll the dice on- install and regularly test your carbon monoxide detectors and don’t hesitate to get the necessary repairs or replacements to your heating system. A routine maintenance check will help you catch these problems before they become dangerous.
Heating System Maintenance Keeps You Safe
In some cases, a broken heater is just a minor inconvenience. In other cases, it can be dangerous for various reasons. On top of the air quality dangers, it’s important to practice fire safety with heating appliances. House fires are most frequent during the wintertime. Here are a few tips so you can stay safe:
- Always have a professional service and check your heating equipment once a year.
- Before you leave the room or go to bed, turn off portable heaters.
- Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on a regular basis.
- At all times, keep kids at least 3 feet away from open flames and heaters.
- Maintain a 3- foot minimum distance between anything flammable and any furnaces, boilers, fireplaces, water heaters, etc.
- If you smell gas in your house or coming from a gas device, do not start it.
Immediately leave your home and make a call to the nearby fire station or gas company.
Fires are less likely to happen when you have a professional service your heating system every year. Don’t hesitate to call your local HVAC specialists and schedule your annual heating system maintenance!
Schedule your Heating System Maintenance Today
Here at Live Free Heating Cooling Electric, we conduct a 15-point maintenance service that will keep your heating system in tip-top shape every winter. We make sure your units are clean, efficient, and performing their best so you can enjoy all that the chilly season has to offer. Stay warm and schedule your maintenance service with us today!