Summer is the perfect time to schedule a furnace tuneup. Some companies offer early-bird discounts. At the least, you can beat the furnace maintenance rush.
Hiring a professional contractor to maintain heating and cooling systems helps prevent problems and unwanted costs. An inefficient furnace can add up to 30 percent to your utility bill, and it sends more carbon dioxide, the “greenhouse gas,” into the atmosphere.
A furnace tuneup usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. Technicians perform more than 20 maintenance tasks, including changing the filter, adjusting the pilot light, checking the safety controls and cleaning the blower and motor.
Problems commonly found in furnaces that have not had annual tuneups are dirty filters and rusty heat exchangers, which may lead to poor ventilation. Another frequent finding is dusty blower cabinets that can cause the motor to burn up sooner.
Furnace contractors also check for cracks in the heat exchanger that may let carbon monoxide escape. They may test carbon monoxide detectors by using kits that shoot carbon monoxide near the monitors.