Cold weather is upon us and homeowners are hoping their furnaces will keep them warm during the chilly days and nights ahead. The question is, how many of those furnaces have had their annual tuneup? How many homeowners understand the importance of annual maintenance for their furnaces? How many are performing the maintenance themselves?
Myth #1: “I had my ducts cleaned and they included a furnace cleaning so my furnace is fine.”
This is a common misconception – duct cleaners will offer to clean your furnace but this is not the same as a furnace tuneup. Duct Cleaners are not HVAC contractors and don’t have the expertise to make sure your furnace is tuned and working properly. They can certainly change the furnace filter and remove dust from the furnace cabinet. However, they don’t have the tools nor the technical training to ensure your furnace is working safely, efficiently and properly.
A qualified HVAC technician will perform a number of checks on your furnace during an annual tuneup including testing temperature rise (different for each furnace), voltage (for safety), pressure switches, flame sensors, amperage draws, blower motors and other technical issues.
Myth #2: If a homeowner is pretty handy with equipment, they can do their own furnace tuneup.
See response to Myth #1
Stay tuned for more posts regarding the importance of annual furnace maintenance. Upcoming topics include the importance of annual furnace tuneups for warranties, PLUS ”Be Safe with Annual Furnace Tuneups” and ”Save Energy with Annual Furnace Tuneups”.
