Winter Upkeep: How Often Should You Have Your Furnace Cleaned?

Prepping for the cooler months is essential, especially in Tennessee. At Right Time HVAC, we’re all about ensuring homeowners can enjoy a cozy, comfortable home all winter long – but that requires more than flipping the thermostat. Want to make sure that you’re set up for an easy, efficient winter? Then it’s time to tackle the topic of heating system maintenance for your home furnace!

One of the most important (yet often overlooked) tasks is cleaning and servicing residential furnaces. In this blog, we’ll discuss how often homeowners in Tennessee should clean their system, the telltale signs that your furnace needs some TLC, and why it’s the Right Time to rely on professional furnace cleaning services for your annual tune-up.

How Often Should You Schedule Regular Furnace Cleaning?

Wondering how frequently you should be calling for professional furnace maintenance? The answer is simple: at least once a year. Ideally, you should schedule a complete check-up and cleaning for your furnace before winter’s cold months arrive (think August to October!). This ensures that your heating system is in optimal working condition when temperatures drop, keeping your home warm and cozy all season.

What all does annual furnace cleaning involve? When you schedule a service call for maintenance, your HVAC company should do more than just check the filters and clean the furnace. Tune-ups also include a comprehensive check of your furnace’s bits and pieces, even stress testing the components to see if any are on the way to breaking down. This ensures that you don’t have any damaged parts or safety issues (like a cracked heat exchanger, problematic electrical connections, or broken safety controls) when you turn on your heating system for the first time.

Professional cleaning and annual servicing is as much for safety as it is for efficiency!

The Right Reasons to Keep Your Furnace Clean

At Right Time HVAC in Nashville, Tennessee, we maintain and clean your furnace to keep things running smoothly and avoid:

• Dirty Oil Filter or Air Filters
• Reduced Air Flow
• Poor Indoor Air Quality & Breathing Problems
• Carbon Monoxide Leaks
• Improper Venting (Small Holes in the Exhaust Flue from the Combustion Chamber)
• Short Cycling
• Safety Concerns with the Fuel Shutoff Valve, Incoming Gas Pipe, Pilot Light, and Carbon Monoxide

Signs You Need Furnace Maintenance

Is it time to call in the professionals? It’s important to know what to look out for when switching the thermostat away from “cool.” Here are some common signs that your heater could use a good, professional cleaning:

Your Energy Bills are High

Increased fuel supply or electrical power consumption (and a higher utility bill) often means that your HVAC system is working harder than it needs to heat your home. While this could point to HVAC problems, you could very well have dirty ducts, a grimy air filter, or an older furnace. When mold spores, dust, or pet fur builds up in the system, airflow resistance increases. Your furnace has to work harder to circulate the heated air – reducing how efficient and effective your furnace is.

Want to lower your heating bills during winter? Clean your furnace to enjoy peak efficiency!

Winter is On the Way

Annual maintenance is vital for maximizing air quality, lowering your heating bills, and improving efficiency, and you don’t want to put off your essential HVAC services. When cold days are on the way, it’s the perfect time to get prepped. After all, you want to avoid being in the middle of the holiday season before you take care of worn-down parts, dirty filters, heating ducts, and getting your furnace properly cleaned.

Most homeowners will schedule their service call or duct cleaning during the fall to begin the season with their air ducts and furnace clean.

Yellow Furnace Flames from a Gas Furnace

If you notice flickering, orange, or yellow flames, it’s a sign that your burners or flame sensor could be dirty. This can be a safety concern for households, so schedule your seasonal cleaning as soon as possible to reduce hazards and keep your furnace running all winter long. Your heating technician can also see if there’s an underlying issue that needs to be taken care of!

Your Furnace Blows Cold Air

If your system refuses to blow hot air when you switch it on for the first time, something fishy is happening. A minor or major repair could be in your future – but you’ll have to call the pros to find out. Your service will involve troubleshooting issues, so don’t wait to book your service call. Putting off your repair or checkup could lead to more costly damage down the road – or even needing a new furnace. Plus, you won’t have a heater when winter hits if you don’t have your system checked out in the fall!

Taking Care of Furnaces from the Heat Exchanger to the Filter!

As a homeowner in Tennessee, it’s crucial to prioritize annual furnace cleanings and check-ups to ensure your home stays warm and comfortable during the cool months. Keep an eye out for signs that your furnace needs some attention (whether it’s tons of dust, a dirty filter, or winter is coming), and always rely on professional HVAC services for your annual service.

Ready to schedule with an HVAC service pro in Nashville and Middle Tennessee? Then pick up the phone and give us a call! We’re always ready to get you back on track to cozy comfort, no matter the season. It’s never the wrong time to call Right Time!