Do I really NEED yearly furnace maintenance?

Your furnace is one of the most valuable items in your house. Don’t believe me? Ask families in Kansas City whose furnace went out last winter on our long stretch of below 0 days. It’s also one of the more expensive items to purchase and use in your house. Prices are steadily on the rise. In August Westar energy requested another price increase of almost 6%. That’s double last year’s request.

A furnace is just like your car, if you don’t ever maintain or inspect it, it has a way of breaking down at the most inopportune times. In addition, without maintenance it won’t last nearly as long or work nearly as well.

So what is maintenance, how expensive is it, and how often do I need it?

Routine maintenance involves a heating and cooling expert coming out to your house and inspecting your furnace for dangerous conditions and cleaning it to restore peak performance. A good company should:

* Clean & Adjust Burner Assembly

* Clean & Adjust Pilot Assembly

* Monitor Voltage & Amps

* Clean & Inspect Heat Exchanger

* Inspect Blower Components

* Check For Carbon Monoxide

* Check Electrical Connections

* Monitor Heating Cycle

* Check Temperature Rise

* Check Flue Draft

* Clean or Replace Filters

* Check Gas Pressure

Maintenance Saves money!

Furnace maintenance is suggested once a year, ideally in the fall before heavy use. The average maintenance cost as of Feb, 2011 was $100*. Our cost at Priced Right Heating and Cooling is only $59. Your heating bills for one season can be well over $1000. Even if you pay $100, regularly scheduled maintenance can save you money.

Just as a well maintained car saves on gas, a well maintained furnace has a longer life and saves on utility bills.
Routine Maintenance also detects hazardous conditions, such as Carbon Monoxide leakage which could be harmful or even fatal to your family.

In addition, the technician will also help you to know when repair or replacement is necessary. Older heating equipment can have an annual fuel utilization of as little as 50%. New systems can be as high as 97%. With heating costs on the rise changing your system at the proper time can save you thousands.

Why can’t I just do it myself?

Although you can service your furnace yourself, it is not typically recommended, especially if you have an older furnace. While you can service some basic furnace elements, you may not recognize signs of future problems, such as hairline cracks, that need repaired before more serious problems arise. Sadly, mistakes can be deadly. Carbon Monoxide leaks unfortunately kill entire families every year. I know my family is the most important thing in the world to me and I would guess to you as well. Be SAFE! If you don’t understand it, DON’T DO IT!

Still on the fence? ? ?

Furnace Maintenance also carries many other benefits. I have listed below just a few of the additional benefits that a good maintenance program includes:

* Lower Energy Bills

* Extended Equipment Life

* Fewer Repairs

* 15% Discount on All Repairs

* 10% Off System Replacements & Upgrades

* Call You to Schedule

* Improved Capacity

* Priority Customer Status

* No Overtime Charges

* Increase Labor Warranty on New Installs up to 5 Years!