In homes that are heated with a furnace, Medford residents are advised to maintain their appliances properly in order to avoid serious problems during the cold months. Even as we approach spring, it’s important to remember that it’s best to service your furnace before it becomes a problem, so that come next winter when you really need it, your furnace is running in top form.
Whether your furnace runs on oil, gas or electricity, maintaining it yourself or having it serviced is crucial to your comfort and safety. According to Angie’s List, experts estimate that as much as three quarters of all no-heat cases are caused by inadequate maintenance. Besides complete failure to function, poorly functioning furnaces can result in overheating, high energy bills, low air quality and even carbon monoxide leaks that can have serious health consequences—and in the worst case scenario, even result in death!
If you service your furnace yourself:
The bulk of the work will consist of cleaning the appliance. You’ll need to clean or replace the filter, depending on the type of filter your furnace uses. Always follow manufacturer instructions to ensure you’re doing this correctly. You should also carefully clean the blower assembly in order to remove dirt that’s built up over time. In addition, remember to inspect the flue pipe for holes or cracks where carbon monoxide could leak out. You can patch smaller leaks, but for anything larger, you’ll need to replace the flue pipe altogether.
If your furnace obviously needs repairs or if you’re not comfortable servicing it yourself, call a professional furnace servicing company like Raynor Electric.
If at all possible, contact the company that installed your furnace, since they’ll be knowledgeable about your particular situation. No matter who you call, make sure the company is licensed and carries insurance. You should also ask about warrantees on labor, as well as on any new parts. It’s a good idea to do a bit of background research with the Better Business Bureau or on Yelp to make sure the company has a good reputation and a track record of satisfied customers.
In general, having your furnace in Medford professionally serviced costs around $100—a small price to pay for continuous, safe heating throughout the colder months. Moreover, you’ll have the added peace of mind that if any issues arise that should have been addressed during the servicing, the additional work is covered by the warrantee.
