How Often to Service a Furnace to Stay Warm and Toasty Every Winter

With the long list of things we need to maintain in our homes, it’s all too easy to forget furnace servicing. When winter rolls around and the temperature takes a dip for the first time, you might remember that you completely forgot to service your furnace. Furnaces need regular tuneups to keep the warm air pumping, even on the coldest nights. Here’s how often to service a furnace to keep your home toasty all winter long, year after year.

How Often Do I Need to Service a Furnace?

You’ll need to hire a local furnace maintenance pro to service the furnace at least once per year, often in the fall before you need to switch on the heat for the first time. If you live in a colder climate and have to use your furnace from fall to late spring, we recommend having an inspection in the fall and again in the spring.

Benefits of Annual Furnace Servicing

Just like any other appliance, furnaces require regular maintenance in order to operate as efficiently as possible. Here are some of the major benefits of servicing a furnace every year.

Money Savings

One of the biggest benefits of keeping up with an annual furnace service schedule is that you’ll save money on energy bills and repairs. Regular tuneups help the furnace operate more efficiently, which not only lowers the energy needed to power the furnace but also reduces wear and tear on the furnace parts. Plus, a pro can catch problems early on, saving you money on bigger and more expensive repairs.

Comfortable Indoor Temperatures

There’s nothing worse than walking from a warm living room to a chilly bedroom, but cold spots won’t be an issue if you keep up with regular furnace maintenance. Swapping out the filters regularly and cleaning the furnace can help prevent clogs and wear and tear that lead to uneven heating.

Safety

A faulty furnace isn’t just an inconvenience. It can present increased risks for fire and carbon monoxide leaks. From overheating to broken parts, a furnace becomes less safe when it’s not serviced regularly. When you schedule an annual furnace service, don’t forget to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors again.

Longer Furnace Life Span

Putting furnace maintenance on the back burner means you’ll shorten the life span of the furnace. By contrast, annual tuneups, even when the furnace seems to be working just fine, will keep your furnace running smoothly for as long as possible, so you won’t have to shell out for the cost of furnace replacement so soon.

Everything Included in a Furnace Service

Now that you know the importance of scheduling regular furnace servicing, you may be wondering what a furnace service includes. There are several tasks a pro will complete when servicing your furnace, but there are also maintenance chores you should add to your own to-do list to keep your furnace running smoothly.

Furnace Servicing Checklist

When a pro comes to service your furnace, they will often perform the following tasks:

• Check for duct leaks

• Lubricate moving parts

• Inspect the fuel source

• Inspect and clean the burner

• Inspect and clean the pilot light

• Adjust the gas valve as needed

• Check the condensate line for clogs

• Inspect and clean the heat exchanger

• Inspect and optimize the thermostat settings

• Inspect all electrical wiring to the thermostat and furnace

• Check the temperature from return air ducts and heating ducts

DIY Maintenance

While you should leave in-depth furnace tuneups to a pro, there are some furnace maintenance tasks you can—and should—do yourself, including:

• Changing furnace filters every one to three months

• Cleaning air vent covers at least two times per year

• Evaluating the thermostat settings every few months

• Adding caulk or weather stripping to drafty doors and windows

• Testing smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors monthly

• Adjusting dampers on HVAC ducts when switching from heating to cooling

Furnace Tuneup Cost

A furnace inspection costs $50 to $200, or you can pay $60 to $400 for the cost of furnace cleaning. Both services are important to the health of your furnace. During an inspection, a pro will check all the parts of your furnace and may do some light cleaning. During a furnace cleaning, a pro will more thoroughly clean the furnace, including the burner, heat exchanger, and blower motor.