Imagine this—it’s winter in Chicagoland, you wake up in the middle of the night to grab some water, and you realize your home is cold. You check, and the thermostat reads 55 degrees! Not only is your house cold, but the worst part is you’ll have to wait until the morning to call your local HVAC contractor for repair. This entire situation could be avoided had you scheduled a furnace tune-up back in the fall.
Most homeowners in Illinois choose to skip their annual furnace maintenance inspection because their furnace has never broken down before. A scheduled check-up for your furnace isn’t always top of mind or convenient. However, as we approach the frostier months, now is the best time to guarantee your furnace is ready to provide you maximum comfort throughout the winter months.
Here’s what you should look for:
There’s no heat – Perhaps the most obvious sign your furnace needs a tune-up, if there is no heat flowing through your ductwork and coming out of your registers, you need a furnace tune-up. A professional HVAC technician will inspect your furnace from head-to-toe to diagnose and repair your furnace.
Energy bills increase – If you notice your energy bills are increasing each month after turning on your furnace, chances are your heating system is not running at its peak efficiency. A furnace tune-up will ensure all the nuts and bolts are tightened and your system is as efficient as possible.
Constantly adjusting the thermostat – If you still feel uncomfortable after making constant adjustments to your thermostat, this could be telling you that your furnace is not as functional as it should be.
Members of your family not feeling well / having headaches – Might be due to cracks in a furnace heat exchanger, where carbon monoxide can leak into your home, and consequently, making your family members fall sick.
Your pilot light is yellow or orange – When operating correctly, your furnace’s pilot light should burn blue. If you notice your pilot light is yellow or orange in color, it’s a sign your furnace needs a tune-up.
Your furnace is old – The average lifespan of a furnace is 10 – 20 years. As your furnace ages, the more important a furnace tune-up becomes. If your furnace is between 10 and 15 years old, we highly recommend scheduling a furnace inspection.
Your furnace needs frequent repairs – If your furnace has been repaired more than once in the past two years, take it as a sign your furnace needs a tune-up. Frequent repairs mean your furnace is on the fritz, so an inspection will help detect any issues before the peak of the heating season arrives.
Your furnace turns on and off a lot – If you notice your furnace turning on, running for a few seconds, then turning off again, chances are you need a tune-up. Your furnace could have faulty wiring, a fan motor may be fixed, or your thermostat could be malfunctioning.
Benefits of Furnace Tune-Ups
An annual furnace tune-up provides many benefits to you, your home, and your family. These include:
Improved airflow and indoor air quality
Reduced repair costs
Fewer repairs
Improved energy efficiency
Additionally, scheduling a furnace tune-up each fall upholds your manufacturer’s warranty, which could save you thousands of dollars in the event of a breakdown.
Schedule Furnace Maintenance in Chicagoland
ASAP Plumbing & HVAC, Inc is Chicagoland’s trusted heating contractor. We’ll inspect your furnace in addition to the rest of your entire heating system—ductwork, electrical wiring, and furnace components, and more. If you’re wondering how much a furnace tune-up costs, you can rest easy knowing it’s not going to cost a fortune. Sometimes we have special offers in your local area that you can take advantage of.
It’s best to take action now and be prepared than to regret it during the middle of winter when your furnace stops working properly. If you live in Cook County, call ASAP Plumbing & HVAC, Inc to learn more about what a furnace tune-up includes, and how it benefits you—give our experts a call at 847.509.8113 or schedule an appointment online.