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Does Furnace Cleaning Matter?

Annual furnace maintenance is crucial for optimizing the performance and longevity of your heating system. Regular upkeep ensures that your furnace operates efficiently, minimizing energy consumption and lowering utility bills. During maintenance, technicians inspect and clean essential components such as burners, heat exchangers, and filters. This process eliminates accumulated dirt, dust, and debris, preventing potential airflow restrictions and improving the system’s overall efficiency.

Moreover, routine maintenance acts as a preventive measure against unexpected breakdowns. Technicians can identify and address minor issues before they escalate into major problems, saving you from costly repairs and inconvenient disruptions to your home heating. Beyond cost savings, annual furnace maintenance is a safety measure. Technicians check for gas leaks, inspect the combustion process, and examine the heat exchanger for any cracks. This is crucial in preventing the release of harmful gases like carbon monoxide, ensuring the safety of your household.

When Should I Have My Furnace Cleaned?

It is ideal to have your furnace maintenance, which also includes standard cleaning, in the fall before you turn the heating system on for the first time. This ensures that a professional heating service expert will be there to diagnose any issues as they come up for the first time rather than you finding out the hard way when you try to turn your furnace on later. However, you can have your furnace maintenance done any time of year, just know it may accumulate some dust if it sits for a long time before being used.

You may want to get your furnace serviced outside of regular fall maintenance if you have just done any remodeling or have just moved into a new home. This will ensure any drywall dust or remnants from past tenants are not living in your furnace.

How Often Should a furnace be cleaned?

As a general guideline, it is recommended to have your furnace professionally cleaned and inspected at least once a year. Annual maintenance is a common practice to ensure optimal performance, energy efficiency, and safety.

Signs Your Furnace is Overdue for a Cleaning

Several signs indicate that a furnace may need cleaning or maintenance. Recognizing these signs early can help prevent potential issues and keep your heating system operating efficiently. Here are some common indicators that your furnace may need cleaning:

  1. Reduced Heating Efficiency: If you notice that your home takes longer to heat up or that it’s not reaching the desired temperature, it could be a sign that the furnace is not operating at peak efficiency. This may be due to a buildup of dirt and debris affecting the system’s performance.
  2. Increased Energy Bills: A sudden or gradual increase in your heating bills without a corresponding increase in usage can be a sign of reduced efficiency. A dirty or clogged furnace has to work harder to produce the same amount of heat, leading to higher energy consumption and increased costs.
  3. Strange Noises: Unusual noises coming from your furnace, such as banging, rattling, or squealing, may indicate various issues, including loose components, worn-out parts, or a need for cleaning. Ignoring these sounds can lead to more severe problems over time.
  4. Uneven Heating: If certain rooms in your home are significantly colder than others, it may indicate issues with your furnace. Uneven heating can result from blocked vents, dirty filters, or other problems that impede proper airflow.
  5. Visible Dirt or Dust: If you notice visible dirt or dust around the furnace or on its components, it’s a clear sign that the system needs cleaning. Accumulation of dirt can impede airflow and decrease the efficiency of the furnace.
  6. Frequent Cycling On and Off: If your furnace is cycling on and off more frequently than usual, it may be struggling to maintain the desired temperature. This could be due to issues such as a dirty air filter, a malfunctioning thermostat, or other maintenance-related issues.
  7. Yellow or Flickering Pilot Light: A pilot light that is yellow instead of blue or flickers excessively can be a sign of incomplete combustion. This may be caused by a dirty or malfunctioning burner, which can compromise the efficiency and safety of the furnace.
  8. Presence of Soot: Soot around the furnace or on the walls near vents is a clear sign of incomplete combustion. It may indicate a problem with the burners or heat exchanger that requires attention.

Do I need to Have My Furnace Serviced if it’s New?

The short answer is, yes. We recommend furnace maintenance annually. Just because your car is new doesn’t mean you skip the oil changes, right?

Are Furnace Cleaning and Duct Cleaning the Same?

Many homeowners search for “furnace cleaning” when what they really want is duct cleaning, but the two are entirely separate services. Duct cleaning cleans out all of the ductwork in your home including the supply duct above your furnace where heat is being provided. However, an air duct cleaning will not actually clean inside the furnace itself and does not include any service done to the furnace. It can help ensure your furnace is circulating clean air throughout your home.

How Much Does Furnace Cleaning Cost?

A furnace tune up can range in price depending on where in the country you live. With Quality Comfort Home Services, your furnace clean and check will cost $79. If you are part of our Total Care Club then you will receive one furnace check free each year.

What Parts of the Furnace Get Cleaned?

The inside of the unit is vacuumed out, removing any dust or debris that has gathered at the bottom. We also clean the burner, the pilot assembly and the exterior of the furnace as well if it is needed.

What Does Furnace Maintenance Include Besides Cleaning?

Each company has different types of inspections they may run on your unit. Usually there is a “multi-point” checklist involved. Quality Comfort follows industry-standard best practices and checks all of the following components of your furnace.

  • Check flue system for safety & carbon monoxide leaks
  • Check return & air filter
  • Check furnace blower motor
  • Check furnace ignitor
  • Check limit switch
  • Check thermocouple
  • Clean pilot assembly
  • Clean and adjust burners
  • Test for gas leaks
  • Inspect combustion chamber
  • Check for combustible materials around furnace
  • Check flame sensor
  • Lubricate motors and bearing as necessary
  • Check all parts for visible wear & tear
  • Check gas train and all electrical components/connections for safety
  • Test thermostat operation
  • Check heat exchanger
  • Check proper burner ignition and efficiency
  • Confirm complete system operation and safety

What if I Have a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps both heat and cool the home, so we recommend both heating and cooling tune-ups for heat pump systems. The components we would be checking for each season are different to ensure peak operation in heating or cooling mode, whatever is needed for the upcoming season.

Pay $0 for Tune Ups with Total Care Club

Many companies offer service agreements and Quality Comfort Home Services offers you the Total Care Club Super Savings Plan. One annual price includes your furnace maintenance, air conditioning maintenance, water heater inspection, whole-home plumbing inspection, 10% discounts on repairs and more for the entire time you’re a member. That way you pay once and just forget about it! We call you to schedule your maintenance in the spring and fall.