Ideally, your furnace should work efficiently for 18-20 years... if maintained professionally throughout this time.

This leaves many of our clients asking, “When should my furnace be inspected?” because they want to ensure they’re not prematurely replacing a piece of HVAC equipment that could last longer.

How Often Should a Furnace Be Inspected?

Most experts agree: your home’s furnace should be inspected once a year per system. In short, you should schedule an inspection once for your heating system, and once for cooling.

Most HVAC repair contractors report that up to 75% of no-heat calls in the winter are due to poor or no maintenance/servicing of home furnaces.

What’s the Purpose of Inspection?

If your home’s furnace is left to its own devices, it will likely cease functioning altogether and leave your family “out in the cold.” Most issues and complaints about furnaces in the winter are fairly simple fixes that could have been caught during a routine yearly inspection, such as a filter needing to be cleaned or an easy system reset.

Inspections save your wallet from unnecessary costs in the middle of winter, when a system-failure would be most frustrating and expensive. Inspections also ensure that nothing more dangerous will occur to your home in the case of a furnace malfunction.

How Much Does Furnace Inspection Cost and Include?

While it varies by area and severity of need, the average cost for a furnace inspection is $50-$80. Some heating repair companies even offer financing options. While in your home, your HVAC technician will likely check a myriad of things to ensure the proper functioning of your furnace. Those include:

• Analyzing the furnace filter to ensure it doesn’t need a replacement
• Checking for leaks/blockages
• Inspecting the heat exchanger for corrosion or cracks
• Examining and cleaning the blower and all related components
• Testing thermostat calibration
• Ensuring all motor parts are properly lubricated
• Checking burner for optimal ignition and operation
• Analyzing the belt system for signs of wear or cracks
• Cleaning the fan blades and drain line
• Testing the air flow and fuel pressure
• Any other elements your technician deems necessary for your furnace

Are There Furnace Maintenance Plans?

Many HVAC companies offer furnace maintenance plans as a means of protection for both you and your home. They often incur a small monthly fee, and can include anything from annual check-ups, discounts on repair services, emergency services, incident coverages and priority scheduling.

Having a furnace maintenance plan will encourage and ensure proper upkeep of a home’s furnace system without the homeowner having to think much about it much at all. Ask your provider if they offer a maintenance plan; it may be well worth the investment to mitigate panic or frustration mid-winter!

Here at WM Buffington Company, we believe that scheduled maintenance is critical in keeping your heating system running safely and economically efficient. We are proud to offer our customers a Planned Maintenance Program, for which you can sign up either one time or two times/year.

Taking preventative measures is necessary to ensure that your home and family are protected year-round. The benefits of a Planned Maintenance Program are:

• Heating system inspected & cleaned annually by an expert technician
• Discounted rates on services and products
• Priority service & guaranteed 24-hour response to any service call
• Diagnostic fee waived if repair is needed
• No overtime charges

WM Buffington is your Central Pennsylvania and Harrisburg heating expert! Your heating system is plagued with one of the hardest jobs: keeping your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the winter.

Whether you need a new heating system installed or a furnace repaired, our NATE-certified technicians offer expert services and take care of our customers’ heating troubles, leaving them relaxed and worry-free.

Don’t wait! Contact us today.