Palm Desert, CA Professional Furnace Tune Up Services

Regular tune-ups are as important to a furnace like the way oil changes are important to a car. Furnace parts wear out faster without regular service, get dirtier, lose performance, and may result in a sudden and painful breakdown. If your furnace makes strange noises or runs fine, a tune-up will help keep your family safe and warm throughout the winter.

What does a furnace tune up cover?

Sudden malfunctions causes inconveniences for a family who uses the furnace to maintain moderate temperature or relies on the heat during winters. A skilled technician tests various parts of the furnace during a tune up and repairs any damage to make the furnace last for as long as possible. These checks can help avoid sudden breakdowns, repetitive issues, and multiple replacements. In addition, they will be able to ensure your unit runs more efficiently and will save you money during the cold winter months.

During a tune-up, a professional will:

  • pilot system and/or electrical components
  • check for system leaks and tears or gaps in the ductwork
  • lubricate the mechanical parts
  • clean the major components of the furnace
  • recalibrate the thermostat
  • test the heating elements
  • test the safety and limit switches

Why is a tune-up necessary?

There are far more compelling reasons to have your furnace cleaned regularly than simply keeping it looking nice. When your furnace is clean from the inside out then it will run better. When you clean the coils and replace the air flow filter this can lead to a lower energy bill.

When it comes to a tune-up for your furnace, the pilot system needs to be tested. When fuel in it is incompletely burned this can be a health hazard for the family. A certified professional can let you know if your furnace is at risk for emitting this dangerous gas.

A tune-up will not only save you money on your energy bill, it will also save you money by helping you avoid costly repairs over the life of your unit. When they are not maintained, then this could lead to them being needed to be repaired frequently. Your unit will have to work harder, and thus wear out faster, if parts are allowed to become dirty or become ineffective. Some parts may be too expensive to repair and the entire unit may have to be replaced.

Don’t wait until winter sets in to call in a professional to inspect and service your furnace. Doing proper maintenance on it can make you use it for 15 to 20 years. Depending on how much you use it and other factors, a furnace can last up to 40 years, with proper maintenance and tune-ups.

If you have a newer furnace, be aware that regular maintenance by a certified technician, may be required to keep the warranty valid. Many companies will only consider repairing or replacing a unit under warranty if it meets its scheduled check-ups. Although your furnace seems to be running fine now, a check up can preempt any damage and eventually save thousands of dollars for you.

How should homeowners maintain their furnaces between tune-ups?

Unless something needs repair or breaks down, furnaces typically need very little maintenance by the homeowner in between annual tune ups. But there are some things that you can do for it to last longer and run efficiently.

One way to ensure that your furnace runs efficiently is to regularly change the air filter. Dirty filters can cause the air flow to slow down, which puts a strain on the mechanics, thereby making the furnace work much harder to produce the same results. Experts recommend swapping out air filters at least every three months, especially if you’re a pet owner. A filter will improve the functioning of your furnace and will also filter out toxins, particles, and allergens, allowing your family to breathe clean air through the year.

Some people close off certain air vents to try to control the airflow in their home, but that can put too much strain on your furnace, resulting in mechanical damage. Closing vents can also create conditions that promote the growth of mold in the ductwork. Heating systems break down more easily when the vents are closed and this can create additional expenses to the homeowners.

If the vents in your furnace are outside of the home you need to make sure that there are no blockages in it. The best time to check for blockages in it is during the changing of seasons. If your furnace is having issues when running, you can in like manner check for this before calling the experts for a fix.