How Do I Know if My Furnace Needs Maintenance?

You depend on your furnace to keep your home comfortable in the winter months. Ideally, it should work in the background, and you shouldn’t have to consciously pay attention to much about it, other than to clean the air filter regularly.

However, if you neglect regular maintenance, you could find that it doesn’t perform as well as it should. How do you know if your furnace needs maintenance?

Understanding Your Furnace and Its Requirements

Your furnace speaks to you—it hums, clicks, and sometimes roars, and those sounds tell a story. Routine maintenance isn’t just a suggestion, it’s essential for efficiency and safety.

The Department of Energy recommends scheduling professional HVAC maintenance annually. Doing so can prevent up to 75% of system breakdowns and lower energy bills by 5–15% annually. Neglecting maintenance can lead to costly repairs, and an inefficient system might cause you to overpay by as much as 20% on your heating bill.

What are the signs that you need a check-up? Pay attention tothe following:

• Strange noises
• Uneven heating
• Skyrocketing utility costs
• Dusty vents
• Weak airflow

Each of these symptoms indicates that there’s something going wrong with your furnace. The issue could be as simple as a clogged air filter or as complex as a failing heating element or fan.

What’s Involved in Furnace Maintenance?

Ideally, you’ll work with an HVAC company that offers annual furnace maintenance. The process should look something like this:

• Your HVAC company should service/maintain your furnace twice per year.
• At each visit, an HVAC technician should:
  • Visibly inspect the entire system, including the heat exchanger, burners/elements, wiring, flame sensor, and more (the exact components will depend on the type of furnace you have).
  • Clean the air filter if you have a permanent type or replace it if it’s disposable.
  • Check for gas leaks (if applicable).
  • Inspect the ductwork for signs of leaks or damage.
  • Check airflow through the system.
  • Calibrate the thermostat.
  • Clear the condensate line.
  • Check the flue, vent, and cap.
  • Inspect and test the system’s safety controls.
  • Test for carbon monoxide (if applicable).

How to Schedule Furnace Maintenance

Furnace maintenance isn’t something you should do on your own. Work with a trusted Las Vegas HVAC company. The company you choose should service your system twice a year. (spring and fall are the usual times).

At Elite, we’re proud to service and maintain gas and electric furnaces all year long. And we also service, maintain, and repair air conditioning systems, which means we’re the perfect partner no matter what time of year it might be.

For busy Las Vegas winters, makesure your furnace is serviced before the cold sets in. A well-maintained system will keep your home warm and your wallet happy. Get in touch today to learn more about our annual maintenance plans and how we can help ensure that your system is ready to go.