The Importance of Annual Heating Maintenance: Preparing for the Chill Ahead

Heating maintenance is preventative care that includes a full heating system inspection, cleaning, and even small repairs. It’s good for every home, and homeowners should schedule their heating maintenance appointment in the fall before the cold weather hits.

Trio Heating, Air, & Plumbing is available to service your home heating system so you can rest easy knowing your heater will keep your family warm all winter long. We’re San Francisco locals, so we understand how the winter chill can set into your home. You need a furnace that works well — we’re here to help ensure your heating system always runs at peak performance. 

The Importance of Annual Heating Maintenance

Annual heating maintenance is the best way to keep your furnace running at peak performance. It allows your professional HVAC technician the chance to look over the entire system and find and fix any small issues before they become a big deal. This can save your furnace from catastrophic failure mid-winter and help prevent thousands of dollars in repairs or replacement costs. 

Annual heating maintenance is crucial for the longevity of your heating system. In some cases, scheduling annual heating maintenance calls can make all the difference between your furnace lasting only eight years or more than twenty. 

Cleaning out grime and fixing small issues reduces wear and tear and keeps your heating system running efficiently. A clean furnace uses less power or fuel to do its job, saving you on your energy bills and reducing your home’s environmental impact, even if your furnace is on 24/7.

Consequences of Skipping Heating Maintenance

What happens if you ignore your furnace and don’t maintain your heating system? If you skip heating maintenance, blast the heat all winter long, and hope for the best, you’ll likely notice your furnace starting to have difficulty maintaining a consistent temperature in your home. It might be cold in one room and hot in another, or the furnace will turn on and off quickly without thoroughly heating the space. 

You may also notice bad smells from your vents and more dust around the house. Your indoor air quality might worsen, with more allergens, pollen, and mold spores getting dispersed through the vents. 

Over time, smaller problems like a loose belt or faulty valve can become big issues requiring extensive (and costly) repairs. Your furnace may even fail, leaving you in the cold. Depending on the weather, this can also lead to burst pipes in your home.  

If you have a gas furnace, neglecting maintenance is dangerous. A small issue can grow until it causes a gas leak, and your furnace may become a fire hazard over time if certain internal systems fail. 

If you never have your furnace professionally maintained, you may be in danger of voiding your HVAC system’s warranty. Most mandate that the service life of the furnace depends on regular tune-ups.

Key Steps for Preparing Your Heating System for Winter

If you keep a winter checklist for home maintenance, make sure to include the following heating system preparation steps:

  1. Do a filter check, and replace or wash the filter if it’s been in place for over 90 days or looks dirty.
  2. Test your thermostat by turning on the heat, then slowly raising the temperature in five-degree increments. If the furnace doesn’t quickly kick on and start heating the home, you may need an expert to find the issue.
  3. Look for water leaks around the furnace. This is a common problem with high-efficiency models, and the water can damage the furnace or even cause mold to grow in your house if it’s not addressed. Call an HVAC professional to fix the leak.
  4. Listen closely to the furnace when it’s on, and call an expert if it starts making squeaking, clicking, squealing, banging, or booming sounds. These can indicate small problems or dangerous issues, so addressing them quickly is a good idea. 

If you have a gas furnace, you should also have the pilot light, flame sensor, and gas lines checked out by an expert to ensure your system is safe. 

Benefits of Professional Heating Maintenance Services

The benefits of hiring Trio for heating maintenance include:

  • Improved home comfort and safety, with efficient heat all winter long
  • Less stress, knowing your heating system is working at its best
  • Lower heat bills and fewer costly repairs 
  • Better air quality, with fewer allergens, mold spores, and other nasty particulates in the air you and your family breathe
  • Staying within the terms of your furnace’s warranty 
  • Trustworthy service — you can count on us to show up on time with good quality parts

How Annual Maintenance Saves You Money in the Long Run

One of the biggest heating maintenance benefits is the money you’ll save. Keeping your furnace running at its best means you’ll have more efficient heating throughout your home, better air quality, and lower energy bills.

HVAC maintenance is necessary to prolong the service life of your furnace and keep you on good terms with the unit’s warranty. 

When It’s Time to Upgrade Your Heating System

Unsure if it’s time to upgrade your heating system to a newer model? Here are some of the biggest signs it’s time to replace your current system:

  • Uneven heat throughout your home or no heat coming from the vents at all
  • Higher-than-usual energy bills as the furnace starts running less efficiently 
  • Your furnace is over 10 years old 
  • Loud noises when the furnace is running, including rattling, popping, screeching, or humming.
  • Issues starting up, like when a gas furnace doesn’t ignite the gas properly
  • Parts are harder to find because the furnace model is outdated
  • Repair bills are getting out of hand 

Installing a new furnace may be less expensive than repairs in the long term. It’s better to upgrade your furnace before it possibly breaks down in the dead of winter. In that case, you may be without heat until a technician can do the replacement, leaving you vulnerable to burst pipes and discomfort in a cold house.

A new furnace also comes with plenty of benefits, like programmable thermostat options, smart-home integration, and fast, efficient heating you’ll love.

Contact Trio for Your Annual Heating Maintenance

Trio is here to provide annual heating maintenance and any other services you need for your HVAC system. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and we’ll show you why we’re known for providing the top heating and air services in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Book your annual heating maintenance appointment now so you can be confident that your home heat system is in peak condition when the temperature drops.

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