Thursday 01.19 2017

Furnace Tune-Up: Scam or Valuable Service?

Most homeowners might think they can do a furnace tune-up themselves by basically taking a Shop-Vac to it and moving on.  In reality, a certified HVAC service provider conducts a multi-step inspection and tune-up that is much more in-depth.  There are a number of things trained experts can do and know what to look for that the average homeowner wouldn’t.

For example if you are not a trained professional, the terms heat exchanger or combustion rate or thermocouple wire may mean nothing to you.  Knowledge of these terms and functions, as well as many others, demonstrate why having a certified HVAC service provider conduct a tune-up is valuable to you and the life expectancy of your furnace.

Safety
Improper combustion caused by a tiny crack in your heat exchanger can lead to unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in your home.  This causes an extremely dangerous environment for you and your family.  Cracks in your heat exchanger might not be noticeable to the average homeowner but could be a red flag to the trained eye of a certified HVAC service provider.

Cost Cutting
Sometimes spending a little money can help you save a great deal.  A furnace with issues doesn’t run well and drives up heating costs.  According to EnergyStar.gov, nearly 50% of the energy costs in the average home go to heating and cooling.   Having your furnace serviced annually will ensure it’s running optimally and save you money.

On Your Time
Scheduling a tune-up when it’s convenient for you is better than letting your furnace determine your service appointment.  Bad things always seem to happen at the worst of times – your furnace kicking out in the middle of winter can lead to unnecessary stress as well additional money out of your pocket.

Preventative Maintenance
Getting a tune-up can prevent you from waking up in the middle of a 20-degree night to discover your furnace has broken down and wondering what to do or how to keep your family warm.  Having your unit checked over now will ensure less chance of problems when you most need your furnace to be running smoothly.

Keeps Your Warranty Valid
Many furnace manufacturers require you to have regular maintenance in order for their warranty to remain valid.  Without an annual furnace tune-up, your warranty may become null and you may be forced to replace any broken equipment out of pocket.

Clearly – you, a Shop-Vac, and a screwdriver may not be able to conduct a quality tune-up for your furnace.  Instead, call the experts at TJ’s Plumbing & Heating to schedule your furnace tune-up today.  At TJ’s Plumbing & Heating, we have HVAC specialists on call to help with all of your heating and cooling needs.  From furnace maintenance and repair to installing a new HVAC system, we can help.  We service both residential and commercial customers in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, NY, Warren County, PA and Erie, PA – from Dunkirk/Fredonia to Jamestown and the  Southern Tier, Warren, PA, Erie, PA and all places in between.  Contact TJ’s Plumbing today.

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