Do you know how many “miles” your heating system tracks in a year? Think of your furnace as a car. The heating system in your home averages around 2,000 hours of operation per year. If you compare that to a car traveling at 60 miles per hour, you would have traveled 120,000 miles! Would you have changed your oil during that time? (Of course you would, dozens of times over!).
Proper furnace installation and maintenance is critical to prolonging the life of your heating system. We tell our customers if your heating unit also has an air-conditioner function, then twice-yearly maintenance is recommended. For furnace-only maintenance, we recommend an annual checkup.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that furnaces have a life of approximately 15-20 years. Obviously, routine maintenance factors into the longevity of that lifespan. If you have a gas furnace and there’s a pilot light underneath the unit, chances are your furnace is at least 30 years old! Is that pilot flame blue or yellow? It matters because a yellow flame could indicate a carbon monoxide risk; have you ever had yours inspected? We can help.
As we transition into winter—which is just around the corner—your furnace is going to start working very hard to keep your home warm. Frequent cycling, knocking or squealing noises, furnace smells (often of their heat source, such as oil or gas), inadequate heat, or trouble getting the unit to start: these are telltale signs your furnace may be on its way out.
At BelRed, we want you to get the most out of your heating equipment and energy savings, offering furnace repair in Bellevue and the Seattle area. With all of the hard work your equipment is about to do this winter, now is a great time to schedule maintenance on your high-efficiency furnace. Do you have questions about the freon phase out schedule or your furnace efficiency savings and furnace fan energy consumption? Call for an appointment today!
