The Real Value of Keeping Your Furnace Maintained

December 10, 2017
family with dog

A lot of people debate whether they should spend their money on furnace maintenance each fall. It’s hard to spend money on something that you can’t necessarily see or touch. That’s why Winters Heating and Cooling is here to tell you what your money will get you—beyond the appointment with your service technician. Read on to learn about the real value of furnace maintenance.

Protect Your Family

Few people would put a price limit on the health and safety of their family. So, surely the price of furnace maintenance isn’t much to pay for some peace of mind. During your appointment, your technician will check to make sure your furnace is properly stopping harmful gasses like carbon monoxide from flowing through your home. Without a properly maintained furnace, these gasses could be released inside your home, rather than outside, as they should.

According to Energy Star, “Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.”

Prevent Damage from Dirty Air Filters

You hear about the importance of changing your furnace’s air filter all the time—and for good reason. Keeping a clean air filter is no joke. A clean air filter can:

  • Prevent uneven heating. A dirty air filter inhibits proper airflow through your HVAC system and can lead to cold areas in your home.
  • Keep your indoor air clean. A dirty filter can hinder one of the air filter’s most important jobs: filtering contaminants from your air. Allergens like dirt, dust and debris can circulate throughout your home with a dirty air filter and cause health problems for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues.
  • Reduce energy consumption. A furnace with a dirty air filter isn’t nearly as efficient as one with a clean air filter.
  • Avoid furnace failure. It may seem too simple to be true, but a dirty air filter can actually cause your furnace to break down. Furnaces can become overworked, trying to circulate air through a dirty filter, and cause certain furnace components to fail and leave you in the cold. In fact, we see this problem often in Franklin & South Indy winters.

Save money by avoiding unexpected furnace maintenance or replacement.

The cost of a furnace maintenance appointment is very little compared to the cost of the emergency weekend repair you may need if your poorly maintained furnace unexpectedly quits working. Just as a dirty air filter can cause problems for your furnace, so can other components if they’re not cleaned regularly. Your technician will also check for budding problems during maintenance and take care of them before they become big problems.

Lower your energy costs.

According to the Department of Energy, heating and cooling accounts for about 48 percent of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most homeowners. On its website, the department says, “By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30 percent on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.”

As you can see, the cost of furnace maintenance actually provides great value. If it’s time for your furnace to be checked out and cleaned up, give Winters Heating and Cooling in Franklin & South Indy a call at 317-406-5382. We look forward to helping ensure you get all the benefits that come with a well-maintained furnace.