What Happens When You Skip Annual Furnace Tune-Up
While you may not use your furnace much throughout the year, it’s still important to engage in regular maintenance. If you skip regular tune-ups, you could cause a number of expensive and unnecessary problems that could leave your home less comfortable than it should be.
Let’s take a look at a few specific consequences of not scheduling an annual furnace tune-up as well as how easy it is to remember to do so.
Moisture Can Ruin Your Furnace
You likely understand just how humid it can get in Alabama throughout the year. In some cases, the humidity doesn’t fully abide during the winter months. Moisture can result in corrosion of key parts, which means that your furnace is at risk of breaking down before the end of its useful life if you don’t service it at least every 12 months.
Moisture can also attract insects and rodents to your heating system. In addition to scoring a free drink, your heating system serves as a good place to hide since you don’t use it enough to pose a threat to whatever might want to establish a colony there.
Particles Accumulate Quickly
Another issue that you’ll need to worry about is the fact that dust, dirt and pollen can quickly accumulate inside of your furnace. Over the course of several months, enough matter can get in the furnace to cause serious damage. At a minimum, you’ll want to replace the air filter before turning on your heater as a clogged filter can result in short cycles, poor indoor air quality and other serious issues.
It’s also worth noting that the stuff that makes its way into your furnace can add significant weight to key parts. This means that blowers, fan blades and other components will need to work longer and harder than they should. Ultimately, you can expect to spend more on maintenance as well as pay higher heating bills because your furnace will stay on longer.
The House Will Be Unevenly Heated
A furnace that is not in good operating condition will often create hot and cold spots throughout your house. These uneven zones are caused by the furnace’s inability to adequately heat the air that is then sent through your house. You’ll likely find that areas closer to the furnace tend to be warmer than those farther away.
This problem may be exacerbated by the presence of clogged ducts or vents. Ducts or vents may become clogged with the material that was allowed to build up on the furnace itself before being sent throughout the house.
In some cases, areas closest to the furnace may be unbearably warm because the hot air has nowhere to go. Therefore, those spaces simply get hotter and hotter each time that the furnace kicks on.
Air Quality May Suffer
Indoor air quality may suffer because of the contaminants that are being sent through your home as the furnace sends dirty air to each room. However, you may also have issues with natural gas leaks as a defective furnace may not be able to fully ignite. Issues with ignition may allow natural gas to simply leak into the air or linger in the basement, attic or wherever your furnace is located.
You may notice a burning or rotten egg smell whenever the furnace is in operation. The burning smell is caused by dirt, pollen or other material being heated to unfathomable temperatures. It may also be the result of parts that are improperly lubricated rubbing against each other. Without proper lubrication, parts will simply grind against each other, which results in heat that causes burning smells or the potential for a fire.
Parts Need to Be Properly Lubricated During A Tune-Up
Lubricants are made from ingredients that can dry out over time if you don’t run your furnace at least once a year. In some cases, they can dry out over time even if the furnace does get run on a regular basis. A technician can check for proper lubrication and can add lubricant if necessary to ensure that metal parts don’t get damaged or otherwise risk the ability of the furnace to function properly.
You May Be Responsible for Repair Costs
Failing to engage in routine maintenance may result in the voiding of any warranty associated with your heating system. If secondary damage occurs to your home as a result of a heating system failure, your homeowners insurance may not cover the cost of repairs. Therefore, you could face the prospect of paying thousands of dollars out of your own pocket to make up for your neglect.
Maintaining Your Furnace Is Easy
All you need to do is schedule a furnace tune-up with our team to have your furnace cleaned and inspected in a timely and affordable manner. Remember, if we’re not on time for your appointment, you won’t pay a dime for our services. You may also be able to purchase a service package that comes with routine inspections and other perks. This ensures that you don’t forget to have your system looked at each year, and it also ensures that you’ll get timely service in the event of a heating system emergency.
If you are in need of a furnace tune-up, don’t hesitate to call the folks at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Birmingham today. We’ll be at your home ready to go whenever it’s convenient for you. Our team will diagnose any issues your furnace may have and discuss how to address them. This ensures that your home is a safe and comfortable place to live throughout the year.
