How Frequently Should You Tune Up Your Furnace?

Between specialized lawn applications and raking, you probably do a lot to get your yard ready for colder temps. In your home, your furnace is no different. It also requires upkeep to keep it working correctly throughout the fall and winter.

But how frequently should you maintain your furnace in Des Moines? What if it’s new? Or working well? Are tune-ups necessary then? Let’s go over why furnace maintenance is needed and how regularly you should schedule it.

Why Furnace Service Is Essential

Your furnace is crucial to keeping your house cozy during cold temps. When it’s well-maintained, you’ll receive reliable, efficient warmth. If you frequently skip maintenance, your furnace can accumulate dirt. This can cause your furnace to work48} more and, as a result, increase your gas costs. Avoiding maintenance can also result in your furnace breaking down, leaving you with costly repair bills that could have been stopped in many situations.

One of the most important tasks you can do without help is frequently replacing your furnace’s air filter. When your filter gets too dirty, your furnace might start taking action by doing something called short cycling, where it turns on and off repeatedly to avoid overheating. Apart from the fact that this affects your utility costs, it also impacts your furnace’s life cycle since it’s working more frequently.

If you have a flat filter, we suggest replacing it at the very least monthly. Pleated filters can last up to three months. An easy way to check whether you need to replace your filter is by pulling it out and tilting it toward the light. If you don’t notice light through it, you’re due to get a new one.

However, how often you should replace your filter is dependent upon how often your furnace turns on, if you have indoor animals and if anyone in your household has allergies. The Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling technicians can help if you don’t know how regularly you should get a new filter or what the ideal model is for your family.

How Frequently You Should Request Furnace Maintenance

We recommend scheduling furnace maintenance in Des Moines annually, ideally during the time between air conditioning and heating months. This will give you an advantage just in case you need any repairs and will verify you receive stress-free heating during the winter. It also keeps your manufacturer’s warranty intact, which is important if you just got a new furnace.

Besides getting a new air filter and keeping your register grates free of dust, we don’t recommend performing furnace maintenance without professional help. Your furnace is a detailed appliance that requires assistance from a heating and cooling specialist. All our friendly Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling techs have gone through detailed education to better support you. They’re also completely licensed and insured, providing you peace of mind that your heating system is in experienced hands.

Here are some of services we’ll do on our maintenance visit:

• Inspect crucial parts of your furnace, including the heat exchanger, blower and burner.
• Clean the interior of your furnace, in addition to the flame sensor, burner and blower.
• Look at the flue to verify it’s venting properly.
• Examine overall furnace system for safety and optimal operation.

Today is an excellent time to schedule your furnace maintenance appointment with Kohles & Bach Heating & Cooling. Our pros are here to help you experience a headache-free winter with energy-efficient heating. Contact us at 515-278-2900 to book your appointment right away, and be sure to view our offers for select discounts on your upcoming maintenance appointment.