HVAC

A fall furnace tune up should be a priority on every Inland Empire homeowner’s seasonal to-do list. This essential service provides the care furnaces and heat pumps need in order to perform optimally throughout the winter, while keeping utility bills in check and extending system service life. 

Many homeowners have questions about when to schedule a fall furnace tune up and what is included in the service. The technicians at Sanborn’s Air Conditioning & Heating explain the details of this HVAC service to help you better understand the care your furnace or heat pump receives each year.

When to Schedule Your Fall Furnace Tune Up

Your home’s heating system needs a professional tune up once per year in order to maintain its performance and condition. The ideal time to schedule this service is in the early fall before temperatures start to drop.

Why schedule your fall furnace tune up this early? Completing this task early in the season gets it off your plate and ensures the heating system is ready when needed. Ask any heating and cooling contractor, and you’ll learn that the first cold day each year is a busy one, as a number of homeowners receive an unwelcome surprise when they turn on the furnace or heat pump for the first time – it doesn’t work!

A tune up in early fall provides the system with the care it needs to get to work once heating season starts. As it has sat dormant for many months, system issues go undetected during the warmer months. When an HVAC professional performs maintenance service, these issues are finally uncovered. When they’re found in early fall, there is plenty of time to ensure proper repairs are made before heat is needed in the home. 

When malfunctions are found on the first cold day, you’re likely to wait longer for repairs as technicians quickly become bogged down with these service calls. If replacement parts need to be ordered, you may be left waiting in the cold for them to come in.

Don’t be forced to learn a hard (and cold!) lesson – schedule your fall furnace tune up with plenty of time to spare before the first cold front is expected.

Do I Need a Furnace Tune Up Every Year?

A furnace tune up is an overlooked part of home maintenance for some homeowners. Many wonder if it’s really necessary to have a tune up performed each year. This is a common question especially if their furnaces seem to operate just fine or if they’re relatively new.

It doesn’t matter how well your furnace appears to perform, a tune up always benefits the system.  Here’s why you don’t want to skip it:

  • The truth is, your furnace experiences wear and tear over the course of a heating season. Operation puts stress on components and eventually hinders system performance. This decreases reliability and efficiency.
  • Unmaintained furnaces typically experience more repair needs and don’t last as long as the ones that receive annual maintenance. Owners of neglected furnaces are at risk of frequent repairs, higher energy bills,and far less comfort. 
  • Finally, many manufacturers require regular maintenance by a qualified HVAC technician as a condition of the warranty. Don’t lose warranty coverage due to equipment neglect!

Sanborn’s skilled heating and cooling technicians perform thorough heating system maintenance on all types of equipment, including furnaces  and heat pumps. Our comprehensive fall furnace tune up checklist ensures all system components receive the attention they need to safely and properly operate.

Benefits of Annual Heating System Maintenance

This service or lack thereof can make or break your comfort levels as well as your budget over the upcoming heating season. An annual tune up:

  • Helps the furnace operate with better energy efficiency, which saves money on heating bills
  • Improves the performance of the heating system for better indoor comfort
  • Remedies minor issues to help avoid breakdowns during heating season
  • Enhances the safety of the heating system and risks to air quality
  • Helps increase heating system service life

What’s Included in a Furnace Tune Up?

A fall HVAC system tune up service includes many tasks that deliver comprehensive care to all elements of the heating system. When Sanborn’s performs a tune up, our technicians complete the following:

  • Lubricate motor bearings and other moving parts
  • Check and adjust fan belt tension
  • Check voltage and current
  • Tighten all electrical connections
  • Inspect heat exchanger 
  • Test exhaust system
  • Inspect and clean burners 
  • Verify and adjust gas pressure
  • Test ignition system
  • Check connections to gas or oil lines
  • Test and verify system controls
  • Inspect condensate drain and clear, if needed 
  • Inspect flue pipe
  • Clean interior and exterior of the furnace
  • Change air filter
  • Test carbon monoxide levels
  • Inspect and calibrate the thermostat

Fall Furnace Maintenance Steps for Homeowners

The following are tasks you can perform to keep your furnace or heat pump well cared for throughout the cold season.

  • Invest in a maintenance plan to stay on schedule for regular service.
  • Check your air filter every month and change it as needed. For most households, a new filter every two to three months is fine. Exceptions include homes with smokers, pets and members sensitive to pollen and other allergens. Those households benefit from more frequent filter changes. 
  • Keep good airflow around your outdoor condenser unit. Trim away vegetation and any threatening tree branches. Keep a buffer zone of two to three feet around your outdoor unit. If you see evidence of rodents or insect activity, call a pest control company before they nest inside your HVAC system or chew wiring.  

Make Furnace Maintenance Easy

Make a furnace tune up a priority in your home with our 5 Star Comfort Plan. We know it’s easy to forget, but not when you’re a member! Preventive Maintenance Agreements help homeowners stay on top of annual maintenance visits. We schedule your appointment when it’s time, complete your maintenance tune up and give you other great savings throughout the year.

Did Your Furnace Barely Make It Through Last Winter? 

If your furnace is more than 10 years old or has had more repairs than you can remember, think about furnace replacement. Maybe you moved into a home and don’t know whether you have a heat pump or a furnace. Don’t worry, it’s pretty common! Regardless, the former owners may have neglected heating services. 

Give us a call, and we’ll perform a comprehensive inspection. Even if the heating system is a couple of years old, it will help you have a baseline of its performance and status. 

If you’re interested in a new furnace, ductless unit or maybe zoned heating and cooling, we’re happy to provide a free estimate. We’ll visit, take measurements, perform calculations and ask about your household needs and energy goals. We’ll provide recommendations to improve your heating and air system. 

Plus, we offer finance options, which make it easy to upgrade. Enjoy greater comfort and lower energy bills while you spread out the payments.

Early fall is the ideal time to have your heating system replaced, too. Early planning ensures the new unit is installed and ready to go before temperatures turn cold.

Schedule Your Fall Furnace Tune Up Today!

Get your appointment on the books so your furnace or heat pump is ready to go when you need it this year! Call Sanborn’s Air Conditioning & Heating today to schedule your fall HVAC system tune up, and learn more about annual preventive maintenance agreements.