In case the changing leaves and pumpkin-spiced everything haven’t given it away yet, fall has officially arrived here in the Twin Cities! But apple picking and corn maze maneuvering aren’t the only things you’ll want to check off your list this season — it’s also the best time of year to get your home ready for the frozen months ahead.
One of the most important things to get done before the first snowfall is a fall furnace tune-up. Your furnace is essential to keeping you and your family warm and comfortable in the wintertime, so you’ll want to make sure it’s up to the task. But that’s not the only reason to schedule this critical service! Check out our list of the top 7 fall furnace tune-up benefits below.
1. Reduce the Risk of Hazards
The first and potentially most important reason to schedule a fall furnace tune-up is that it can help protect your home from hazards. Whenever heat is involved, you’ll want to be as diligent as possible with furnace maintenance and repairs to ensure it’s safe to use and won’t start a fire. Additionally, a furnace creates carbon monoxide as part of the process to keep you warm. A cracked heat exchanger or blocked venting could cause carbon monoxide to get into your home. An HVAC tune-up is an opportunity to check the heat exchanger and to make sure the safety switches in the furnace are working properly to help protect you from this dangerous odorless gas.
2. Prevent Major Malfunctions Down the Road
There’s nothing worse than finding out your furnace is in need of major repairs, especially when your spending budget for the month is already at its limit. But when you schedule regular maintenance for your furnace, fall tune-up technicians can catch any small malfunctions before they become bigger and more costly. It’s also much easier to factor preventative maintenance into your budget when the costs are planned and more consistent.
3. Avoid Breakdowns During Winter
Slight update to our previous statement: the only thing worse than finding out your furnace needs major repairs is finding out your furnace needs major repairs in the middle of winter! Especially here in the Twin Cities, your comfort throughout the winter months depends on your furnace doing its job all season long. By scheduling your furnace tune-up in the fall, you can avoid any costly (and uncomfortable) downtime when the weather is much more frightful.
4. Extend the Life of Your Furnace
In the same way us humans need regular preventive check-ups to live a long healthy life, scheduling regular HVAC tune-ups can keep your furnace clean and running well for years to come. Without a tune-up to check for any small malfunctions now, you might unknowingly be running it with broken parts or significant buildup, causing your furnace to deteriorate faster, break down more easily, and require a replacement sooner.
5. Increase Energy Efficiency
As with most kinds of equipment, the more you use your furnace, the more worn down the parts become, plus dust and debris can build up over time. When this happens, your furnace has to work harder to heat your home, especially through those cold Minnesota winters. But with regular tune-ups, your technician can clear out buildup and replace worn-down parts, bringing your furnace back to peak efficiency. And as a bonus, the more energy-efficient your furnace is, the lower your utility bills will be!
6. Improve Air Quality
We all know how stuffy your home can feel in the middle of winter when getting some fresh air requires several layers of winter clothing. But even during the warmer months, you’ll want to make sure you and your family are breathing clean air inside the house and out. As part of your fall furnace tune-up services, your technician will check, clean, and/or replace your furnace’s filters, ensuring that the air you breathe is of the highest quality.
7. Comply with Warranty and/or Insurance Requirements
A furnace is a big (and important) investment — so having warranties and insurance policies in place protects not only the equipment, but also your wallet! However, many of these policies have exceptions in place if the equipment isn’t properly maintained. By scheduling a fall furnace tune-up and regular maintenance throughout the rest of the year, you can cover all your bases in case you need to file a claim in the future. Check your specific policy for details!
Schedule Your Fall Furnace Tune-up Today
Ready to take advantage of all these furnace tune-up benefits this fall? Your friends at Joel Smith Heating and Air Conditioning have more than 30 years of experience maintaining HVAC systems across the Twin Cities, and we can stop in this season to make sure your furnace is ready for another Minnesota winter.
If you have any questions about our fall furnace tune-up services or would like to schedule an appointment, get in touch with our team at 763‑792‑1066 or send us a message.