It never fails: The one time your furnace decides to stop working is always in the dead of winter. You and your family are left trying to find ways to stay warm while you wait for a furnace repair appointment. Not exactly convenient, right? Fortunately, there are things you can do to help ensure your furnace keeps working throughout the winter. Although it’s probably not possible for a homeowner to indeed prevent furnace issues altogether, some preventative measures can be taken to lessen the chances of being left without heat when winter strikes.
One of the biggest things you can do to keep your furnace working well is to schedule a regular furnace maintenance appointment, ideally once per year before you turn the furnace on for the first time. A regular furnace maintenance appointment will help to detect any parts that need to be repaired or replaced. Your furnace should be cleaned during this appointment too, and the air filter replaced. A qualified technician will give your furnace a thorough cleaning and inspection, preparing it for use all winter long. They will order any necessary parts and perform any repairs that need to be done.
It’s also essential to ensure that the size and power of your furnace match the square footage of your home. Having a furnace that is either too powerful or not powerful enough to heat your home adequately will cause it to work harder than necessary to do its job. That will put added strain on the system and increase the likelihood that something will break down. (Making your furnace work overtime will also cost you extra money on your energy bills, incidentally!)
Finally, one of the realities of HVAC systems is that sometimes the best thing you can do is stop repairing your system altogether and buy a new one. Just as with cars, there comes a time that it is more effective and financially sound to replace a failing or older system instead of continuing to repair it. Generally, a furnace has a lifespan of about 15 years. If yours is older than that, it may be a good idea to replace it before winter comes.
This preventative approach is much better than having to deal with problems as they arise, particularly during the winter. When you perform furnace maintenance before the snow flies, you can rest assured that your family and your home will be warm and cozy all winter long. As you prepare for winter in Calgary furnace repair and maintenance should be at the top of your family’s to-do list. Neglecting your furnace will serve to cause you bigger – and more costly – problems in the future. When temperatures start to cool from summer to fall, call a reputable and experienced HVAC technician to come in and inspect your system. They will make any necessary repairs and, where appropriate, recommend that you replace your unit before winter arrives.
