Three Reasons to Have Your Furnace Professionally Checked Before Winter Comes

Living in or around Proctorville, OH, you’ll know a thing or two about just how cold the winters can be. Suffice to say, you need to ensure that you’re home is properly heated so that (1) your family can stay warm and (2) that the pipes in your home don’t freeze, which would lead to some serious leaks if they were to crack or burst. In particular, it is best to keep an eye on your home’s HVAC system throughout the winter, since the temperature between your home and the outside world is so great, and you’d rather not have them be the same.

So, in just what ways can you ensure that you’re getting the most out of your HVAC system in the winter, primarily your furnace? Here are three things to keep an eye on:

1. A furnace’s average lifespan is 15 to 18 years: An immediate step to help the efficiency of your home is to keep an eye on the age of your furnace. If your furnace ends up being too old, it not only provides a risk of danger for your home, but it can become increasingly inefficient. Furthermore, the older your furnace becomes, the more your should have it checked out by a professional (simply to ensure that it is working properly).
2. Properly maintain your HVAC system: HVAC experts say that up to 75% of winter distress, stemming from no-heat issues, come from a lack of HVAC maintenance. Remember to have your home’s furnace is checked out and properly maintained before the winter comes, or before it is too late. A heating repair done in autumn is better than dealing with the bitter cold of winter. Similarly, if the system is shot and your home requires a new HVAC installation, it’s better to have this done before winter comes around.
3. Ensure Proper Ventilation: Another key issue that comes with common HVAC issues is that the home is not retaining heat. General airflow problems can cause a home to lose 15% of the heat being produced by its HVAC system. If this is the issue, where your home’s generated heat is being exponentially lost to the outside world, than you might have issues with your HVAC system’s ventilation system. Ventilation problems are common concurrences when it comes to heating and cooling services, but it thankfully makes for an easy fix. To guarantee proper ventilation, Energystar.gov states that HVAC system filters should be changed every one to three months.

Proper HVAC maintenance is not only important for keeping you and your family comfortable, but it further ensures your home is appropriately preserved. So before winter brings its cold winds and heavy snow, make sure your furnace and HVAC system are in working order.