Imagine an appliance that doesn’t get a tremendous amount of use, rarely causes problems, works year in and year out and almost never seems to need service. For many Phoenix homeowners, that describes their furnace. In Arizona, your furnace plays a distant second fiddle to the hardworking and all-important air conditioner. A summer without air conditioning is utterly unthinkable. However, Phoenix weather is so perfect during the winter months, some residents can go an entire season without turning their furnace on. This can lead to a bad case of FNS (Furnace Neglect Syndrome).
OK, so there’s not really a condition known as FNS, but it is true that many Arizonans take their furnace for granted and let years go by without having a service check performed.
Furnaces Are Built to Last Decades – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
It is absolutely true that most furnaces are manufactured to very high standards and are extremely reliable. The fact that furnaces are so dependable can lull homeowners into a false sense of security. Here are the top five reasons to have your furnace inspected even if it appears to be working just fine:
- Detect Carbon Monoxide Leaks – One of the most important reasons for a yearly furnace inspection is to check for carbon monoxide leaks – an odorless, colorless gas that can be potentially dangerous (even deadly) to you and your family. If you have a faulty heat exchanger or it becomes cracked, it’s possible for carbon monoxide to escape into your home. Our trained technicians will inspect your furnace to insure there are no carbon monoxide leaks.
- Check Igniters and Clean the Burners – Whether you have an older gas furnace with a pilot light or a newer electronic ignition system, it is essential that the igniting sequence of your furnace works perfectly. If you notice a hesitation or delay in the ignition process of your furnace once it is turned on, your burners might need to be cleaned. Our technicians will inspect this crucial part of your furnace.
- Inactivity Often Leads to a Dusty, Dirty Furnace – When your furnace sits inactive for many months, a year or even more, dust and dirt builds up and settles into the moving parts and fittings of your furnace. Occasionally rust will appear on the burners. You may notice the first time you fire up your furnace after months of inaction, there is a funny odor. That smell is the dust being burned off the exposed surfaces of your furnace. During a pre-winter inspection, our service techs will clean your furnace and get rid of excess dust and dirt, so it does not make its way into your home.
- Thermostat Checkup – The key to proper home heating starts with your thermostat. We will check the calibration, the wiring and the accuracy of your thermostat and make sure it’s working properly. We will also provide you with information about new wi-fi enabled “smart” thermostats which can save you money and help you heat your home more efficiently.
- Replace Dirty Filters with Clean Air Filters – Air filters keep your home free from indoor air pollutants, such as dust, dander and the fine desert dirt that tracks into your home. Replacing your air filters is a priority for any service inspection.
The Heat Is On
With Thanksgiving behind us and the new year just ahead, take the time to have your furnace checked before you experience any problems. Preventive maintenance detects and solves small problems before they turn into big headaches. Give us a call at 623-872-2900 and one of our expert technicians will inspect your furnace and your entire HVAC system for you.
