Taking care of your furnace during the warm weather means less chance of problems when the cold weather returns. It also means you'll have better luck actually finding a heating contractor – if you wait until fall, you'll probably find them all booked up with furnace installations and repairs.



What's Involved in a Furnace Tune-up?

A furnace tune-up is essentially a maintenance call. A technician will visit your home and check your furnace thoroughly to ensure it is performing as efficiently as possible. Here are some of the things the technician will do:

• Check the entire system for wear and tear, and for small problems that may lead to more trouble later on. This preventative maintenance is one of the main benefits of a furnace tune-up. By identifying and fixing possible problems before winter comes, you can reduce or eliminate the chance of a breakdown during cold weather. Emergency repairs can be costly, so doing all you can to prevent them is wise.

• Check the thermostat to make sure that the furnace is generating the right amount of heat.

• A tune-up can greatly improve efficiency. In fact, a properly tuned furnace can improve energy efficiency by up to 15%.

• Clean your furnace filter. Clean filters are essential to efficient furnace performance.

• Carry out an overall safety test. Your heating contractor will check for cracks that can lead to carbon monoxide leaks. Most heating contractors use equipment that is far more sensitive than home CO2 detectors, which gives you peace of mind.

What Else Can You Do To Keep Your Furnace Running Smoothly and Safely?

There are a number of things you can do to optimize your furnace's performance:

• Although your technician may clean your furnace filter when he or she visits, you need to ensure it is cleaned regularly. If the filter becomes clogged or damaged because of buildup, it will not perform optimally and may create ventilation problems. Most experts recommend a monthly cleaning.

• If possible, get a HEPA filter for your furnace to ensure the air in your house is even cleaner.

• Don't store a lot of stuff around your furnace. Clutter reduces access to the furnace, in the event a repair is needed. Materials like paints and varnish can leak fumes, presenting a fire hazard if they are stored near your furnace. Other flammable materials – like books and magazines – should also be stored far from the furnace.

Between your efforts and those of your heating contractor, you can keep your furnace running very efficiently. You'll very likely extend the life of your furnace too - by as much as five to ten years – which will save you money. So, what are you waiting for? Contact your local heating contractor and get set for trouble-free home heating this winter.