Preparing for Your Big Day

Posted on: 11 October 2016

If you're a homeowner with a heating system that includes a furnace rather than radiators or a heat pump, having a yearly professional inspection is common best practice to make sure that the unit is prepared for the coming winter season. Here are three reasons to opt for professional inspection rather than a DIY approach or simply skipping the inspection altogether.

1. Longevity

If your furnace is properly maintained, it will last longer than a furnace that isn't well cared for. For example, if there are blockages of dust in the filters or vents, airflow will be restricted, which can prematurely age the motor. There are several other ways that your furnace's longevity can be affected by maintenance or lack thereof as well. If you want to spend less money on replacement and repair, spending the money on maintenance now is a wise choice.  

2. Convenience

If your furnace does need repairs this year, it's much better to find out before you start using it for the season. If you find out later by having a midwinter breakdown, you could end up being without heat in a cold snap. Not only is this no fun (and potentially dangerous, depending on where you live), but it also means you're likely to pay more for the repairs; not only has the damage increased, but emergency repairs command a price premium as well.  

3. Safety and reliability

Getting a high-quality professional inspection is the best way to ensure safe operation. It's true that some homeowners are really into DIY stuff and that if you're like this, you may feel that you can simply check the furnace yourself for any needed repairs. After all, if you check it and it doesn't need any repairs, you can save all the money you would have spent on a professional inspection, right? However, the best furnace inspections are rather complicated processes that include things like:

• Inspecting for damaged wiring (requires electrical expertise)
• Checking and perhaps cleaning blower wheel (requires quite a bit of disassembly)
• Inspecting entire drainage system and entire vent system
• Analyzing combustion to ensure unit is functioning correctly

In order to complete these and all the other aspects of a good inspection, you'd need hours and hours of training and even then you'd still not be as experienced and reliable of an inspector as a professional. Instead of wasting your time, simply opt for a professional inspection.  

These three reasons prove that many benefits come with the decision to have annual furnace inspections done by a professional. Plan to schedule the service around the beginning of fall so your furnace will be all ready to go when those cool evenings hit. Contact a company like Extreme's One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning for more info.