As summer fades away and temperatures start to drop at night, you may start giving your HVAC system a little extra thought. It’s been months since you fired up the furnace. Will it immediately begin warming your home just as well as it did last year or are you up for some obstacles that you haven’t yet discovered?
Maybe it’s not chilly enough to think about heating your home right now, but you know the day is coming when it will become a necessity. A tune-up is required to ensure your furnace is ready for the cold weather to come, but when should you schedule that tune-up? We’re going to explore the answer to that question right here.
The Purpose of a Furnace Tune-Up
The first step to selecting the best month for a furnace tune-up is to understand why you need one. What exactly is the goal when you bring in an HVAC technician to look at your furnace?
Tune-ups are designed to check your furnace, thermostat, and other related components of your HVAC system to ensure they’re functioning safely and at full capacity. When you start to feel the chill and flip that switch for comforting indoor warmth, you want to feel confident that your furnace is ready to respond efficiently.
Annual tune-ups give you that confidence. They also provide peace of mind because you know that your system has been thoroughly inspected by an experienced HVAC technician. That technician corrected any problems that could have increased your risk of a system breakdown in the upcoming cold season. They also cleaned key components of your HVAC system to eliminate the accumulation of dust and debris that can interfere with the functioning of your furnace and the transfer of heat through your vents.
You can confidently flip that switch and enjoy the influx of warm air thanks to your well-timed tune-up. Think of it as essential maintenance or preventive care. Prevention is always cheaper and more convenient than furnace repairs.
The Best Month for a Furnace Tune-Up
So, when is the best time for a furnace tune-up? In short, it’s just before you expect to start using your heat for an approaching cold season. That’s a generalized and rather vague answer, but it’s the most accurate statement as it applies to people everywhere.
For those of us in the Modesto area, the coldest month of the year is often December. Depending on various factors like your tolerance for chilly weather and how well your home holds in heat, you may want to start turning the heat on at night in November or possibly a little sooner. That would make September or October ideal months for a furnace tune-up.
If you live in a colder climate where the temperatures start dropping in August or September, you may decide to schedule your furnace tune-up as early as June or July.
What Are Your Patterns?
The best way to determine one month to schedule your furnace tune-up every year is to think about your personal heating and cooling patterns. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What is the earliest you have ever turned on the heat?
- Based on the past five or more years, is there one month that you typically start to get cold inside your home?
- Are there factors that may require you to start running the heat sooner or later this year?
You should schedule your furnace tune-up at least a month before you may want to start using your heater. The goal is to flip that switch to heat with absolute confidence that your furnace is ready to meet your demand for heat.
Consider Possible Repairs
Do you have any reason to suspect that your furnace may need some type of repair this year? Maybe you remember an odd smell or sound right at the end of the last heating season, but you flipped it off rather than calling in an HVAC technician.
Perhaps you just suspect that your system hasn’t been functioning at peak capacity for the last year or two. There may not have been warning signs that prompted a repair call to an HVAC company, but you suspect your furnace needs some attention to get back to its highest functioning potential.
If this applies to you, then consider scheduling your furnace tune-up a bit earlier than usual. Experienced HVAC technicians generally come equipped with well-stocked vehicles, but you never know when they will have to order a replacement part. If your furnace needs more substantial repairs or even a replacement, it’s less stressful if you have some time before the cold weather hits.
Seasonal Fluctuations
Also, keep in mind that some winters can come in roaring a little early while others are rather mild or sluggish. You can watch the news or listen to the chatter online to hear many expert predictions for the type of winter you may have in the coming year. You may want to schedule your furnace tune-up a bit early if you suspect an early or intense winter.
Beyond inspecting the furnace, technicians can also check other crucial components of your heating system, such as ductwork and thermostats. Ensuring that these are functioning optimally helps to maintain consistent warmth throughout your home, even during unexpected cold snaps.
The Dangers of Delaying Furnace Tune-Ups
It’s easy to put something like a furnace tune-up off for months or even years. If your system works properly, you may consider it less important than most other things on your to-do list. The problem is that your furnace is more likely to malfunction or even stop working entirely if it isn’t properly maintained.
Even skipping one year could have a tremendous impact on the efficiency, safety, and stability of your heating system. By preventing many winter breakdowns and reducing your need for emergency service calls, a well-timed tune-up can save you money and time throughout the winter.
Remember, the purpose of a tune-up is to prevent malfunctions. Scheduling at least a month before the start of the winter gives you maximum protection.
Scheduling Your Next Furnace Tune-Up
If you’re thinking about the health and readiness of your furnace, right now is likely a good time to schedule a furnace tune-up. Think of it as going to the doctor for a health check-up. There is often something that prompts you to take that action. Maybe you go at the same time each year, or perhaps it’s just a subtle thought that something may need a little TLC.
Your furnace isn’t much different than your body. If something is nudging you to get it looked at by a professional, now is a good time to get your system on the schedule with a trustworthy HVAC service like Loves Air. We offer comprehensive heating and air conditioning services, and we can also help with duct sealing, solar, windows, and water heaters.
To learn more about furnace tune-ups and schedule your appointment, contact Loves Air today.
