Beyond just keeping your warranty valid, annual heater tune-ups are worthwhile for improving efficiency and catching expensive failures before they happen. Service checkups usually involve tightening electrical connections, testing the controls, calibrating the thermostat, and inspecting everything to make sure it’s in good working condition.
So we know that tune-ups are worthwhile even for heaters in good working order, but when should you schedule one?
August and September Are the Best Months
It may be tempting to wait until the end of fall or the beginning of winter to service your heating system. After all, that’s when you’ll actually be using your heater. However, the best time of year to schedule a tune-up is in the late summer or early fall. Yes, we know the homeowners often feel the weight of late summer chores as August and September approach.
If you can work it into your schedule, here’s why we feel these are the best months for a heater tune-up.
Catching Minor Issues While They’re Still Minor
The best reason to schedule regular HVAC tune-ups is to catch minor problems before they get out of hand and become major repairs. That’s true regardless of when you have your heating system serviced, but finding these issues in the early fall or late summer will give you plenty of time before the heating season to schedule repairs. The last thing you want is for your furnace to break down in the middle of winter due to a problem that could’ve been addressed months before, so schedule a tune-up and any necessary repairs while it’s still warm outside.
Getting Prepared for the Winter
Even if your heating system doesn’t need any serious repairs, a late summer or early fall tune-up is still recommended. Your furnace likely hasn’t been used for months, so it may require some cleaning, inspections, and other maintenance before it gets turned on for the winter. A tune-up will ensure that you won’t have to deal with any dirty air ducts or strange sounds when you turn on your furnace for the first time this winter.
Beating the Rush
Finally, scheduling your annual heating system maintenance in the late summer or early fall could help you avoid the influx of service calls that HVAC contractors inevitably receive at the beginning of winter. You’ll be more likely to receive service when you want, and that service may even be more affordable than during winter.
Overall, servicing your heating system before it gets really cold outside is a great way to ensure that your home is ready for the winter. Whether you schedule service as early as August or as late as October, an early furnace tune-up is just the thing to give you peace of mind this winter. If you live in Pueblo, CO or a surrounding area and need heating repair services, make your first call to R Buck Heating.