subject: Furnace Service: It's That Time Again [print this page] Perhaps the best time to have your furnace serviced is the beginning of fall. However, most companies who provide furnace service say that many customers wait until they need heat to have their furnaces looked at. You may find yourself in a long line if you wait until then.Tim Swan, of Swan Heating and Air Conditioning in Fort Collins, CO, is my local go-to guru of HVAC here in Northern Colorado. He says that his staff has the time in the fall to conduct furnace inspections. With air conditioning season over and heating season still around the corner, his service teams now have the time. But once cold weather hits, a backlog of customers needing furnace service or even furnace repair begins.You many not need much done if you have a newer furnace, which is one installed within the past ten years. If you're diligent about changing out your filters in a timely fashion, your furnace is probably in decent shape. They pretty much monitor themselves due to current high technology and electronics found in furnaces today.The main item needing looked at during a service call is the flame sensor, at least for most newer furnaces. A good service tech will also check the burners. They just don't get as dirty as they did in the past because they are typically built into "closed" of the furnace.As for the blower, the gas valve, and the safety controls, they are now a part of a circuit board which monitors their performance. When there is a problem with any of these, it will shut down the furnace. Therefore, it's the opinion of many service techs that you don't necessarily need furnace service as often as in the past.One thing to consider though: consider the environment your furnace is performing in. If there is a lot of dust, or animal hair, or other elements that may affect the furnace's performance, it should be checked and serviced more often. That may mean at the beginning and during the middle of the cold-weather season.Because of some tragic situations in Colorado homes concerning carbon monoxide poisoning, you should also make sure your furnace is properly serviced. Swan says that virtually every gas furnace will produce some carbon monoxide. It's usually taken out of the home through the venting system.A newer energy- efficient furnace will produce less carbon monoxide, and will automatically shut off if there is a problem. Older furnaces or a furnace which isn't serviced timely can produce deadly amounts. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, it is very dangerous. It may not only cause disorientation and flu-like symptoms, but can also be deadly. Therefore it's wise to also equip your home with a carbon monoxide detector and alarm.Basically, a good rule of thumb for furnace service is to have an older furnace serviced every year, and a newer energy-efficient furnace serviced every other year. And if you have filters, you should change them out monthly, or at least quarterly, depending on the environment the furnace is operating in.
