Can Fall Furnace Tune-Ups Prevent Breakdowns?
By getting an annual fall furnace tune-up, you can ensure more reliability and efficiency. After all, Miami’s winter season temperatures can drop to 50°F, so the last thing you want is to have your heating system breakdown on a cold morning. Fortunately, Miami One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating is here to help.
Top 7 Reasons to Get a Fall Furnace Tune-Up
Choosing a fall tune-up, also known as preventative maintenance, is the hallmark of a responsible homeowner. Although some people skip out on this vital step, it almost always costs them more money in the long run. Let’s take a look at seven reasons why you should prioritize your furnace this fall.
1. Extends Your Furnace’s Lifespan
Your furnace is an investment, and taking proper care of it can extend its lifespan. The average furnace lasts approximately 15-20 years, but regular maintenance can stretch this as far as 30 years. Once you consider the price of a replacement furnace, you’ll see the wisdom in paying for fall tune-ups.
2. Ensures Proper Airflow
Without proper airflow, your furnace can’t keep your family as comfortable as usual. Items such as your ductwork, blower and air filter need to be properly maintained. Otherwise, air won’t move as effectively, and your furnace will have to work harder to provide heat.
Not only will a dirty air filter stunt your airflow but it will also cause your furnace’s efficiency to fall. At the same time, your energy bills will rise. Plus, your furnace will be more at risk for unexpected breakdowns.
3. Improves Air Quality
If you fail to get tune-ups, your indoor air quality will begin to suffer. It’s critical to have your air filters replaced and clean your blower. Otherwise, contaminants, including allergens, will cause an unhealthy living environment.
Let’s say you have a family member with asthma or serious allergies. Without high quality indoor air, they can face the following symptoms:
- Respiratory issues
- Asthma attacks
- Increased allergy symptoms
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Itchy eyes
- Dry skin
- Difficulty concentrating
It should also be pointed out that even individuals who are generally healthy can develop shortness of breath, nasal congestion or a sore throat. Instead, take the time to schedule your furnace tune-up and avoid these issues.
4. Discover Problems Early On
Another nice aspect of getting furnace tune-ups is that a professional HVAC expert inspects your entire system. This is a good way to identify minor issues. By taking care of them on the spot, you can save a lot of money.
Small problems such as loose connections, worn-out parts or even early signs of corrosion are easy to repair. However, if you wait to address them, they could end up causing a major and expensive system failure.
5. Ensures Your Safety
When our experts provide furnace tune-ups, they place an emphasis on verifying your heating system is still safe. Without these checkups, you could develop a gas or carbon monoxide leak.
Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because you can’t hear it, smell it or taste it. That’s why it’s often referred to as the silent killer. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include: 
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Vomiting
If you develop a tiny gas leak, you might not be able to notice its distinctive sulfur-like smell. This can also lead to several symptoms, including:
- Nosebleeds
- Disorientation
- Blistering skin
- Mood swings
- Muscle tremors
- Reduced appetite
As you can see, the best way to ensure your family’s health is through seasonal maintenance. In fact, this one point alone is definitely important enough to schedule regular furnace tune-ups.
6. Keeps Your Warranty Active
Life is busy, and it’s easy to forget about things that only happen once or twice a year. However, if you’d like to keep your manufacturer’s warranty active, you’re going to need regular tune-ups. Otherwise, you could get an unwelcome surprise if you try to make a claim.
7. Offers Peace of Mind
Once your furnace maintenance is complete, you can take a deep sigh of relief. The odds of suffering from an unexpected furnace breakdown become extremely minimal. So, you can put your fears to rest and get on with the rest of your life.
What Gets Done During Fall Furnace Tune-Ups?
Now that you have a better understanding of why it’s wise to get preventative furnace maintenance, let’s take a look at what your HVAC expert will do:
- Replace your air filter
- Clean the interior components
- Inspect your burners, heat exchanger and vent/flue
- Test your safety controls
- Check for carbon monoxide
- Check for gas leaks
- Lubricate moving parts
- Inspect and tighten electrical connections
- Calibrate your thermostat
- Test the startup and shutdown processes
Turn to the Furnace Professionals at Miami One Hour
Failure to get regular seasonal tune-ups can definitely hurt you more financially in the long run. It can also leave your family extremely uncomfortable if your furnace breaks down in the middle of winter. Instead, reach out to the experts at Miami One Hour to schedule your fall furnace tune-up. We’re on time, or you don’t pay a dime.
