Beyond this important guideline, here are some further signs that you may need a furnace tune-up.
- A dirty or dusty furnace
- Leaks coming from any part of your system
- Parts that are not properly lubricated
- Winter is approaching
Alone, none of these signs are surefire indicators of serious problems, but as the purpose of maintenance is to prevent major issues, you should take note of all of them. Furnaces inevitably accumulate dirt, dust, and other contaminants in them over time. If too much debris builds up, it will obstruct functioning. One important purpose of maintenance services is to clean out your furnace before the dirt buildup turns into a serious problem. Doing this will also improve your indoor air quality.
Leaks of any kind are always a sign of issues with your system, but these issues need not necessarily be catastrophic. It could simply be that some pipe or tubing system is loose. In that case, a maintenance technician can tighten the pipes and stop the leak.
Furnace maintenance usually involves making various small adjustments to your system in order to restore it to optimal functioning. If some part is rusty or needs lubrication, this will cause problems down the line.
Even if you don’t notice anything wrong with your furnace, it’s still a good idea to call a technician over to do a maintenance check before the winter hits. If any underlying issues exist, the technician will be able to find them and resolve them. You certainly don’t want to be stuck with a major furnace malfunction after the cold weather has already stormed in.
A final thing to remember is that most furnace manufacturers demand proof of regular professional maintenance as a condition of using their warranties. Don’t shirk on maintenance. Doing it will save you from bearing the brunt of more serious problems in the future.