IS YEARLY FURNACE MAINTENANCE A SCAM

You might have heard it online or from a heating and cooling contractor: “Yearly furnace maintenance is a good idea!” Of course, hearing that from a heating and air conditioning that profits from the service might make you think, “This sounds like a scam.” We assure you, it’s not. But rather than take our word for it, we’ll cite credible resources that recommend furnace maintenance. Then we’ll give you a more detailed list of the benefits of professional furnace maintenance.

Who recommends yearly furnace maintenance?

Georgia Power: Local power company in Georgia. What they say: “Get a pre-season checkup to ensure efficiency- Have a licensed contractor perform a pre-season checkup of your system in the spring and fall to ensure all parts are working properly and avoid early system failure.”
Energystar.gov: This is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program. Its job is to help businesses and people save money and protect the world’s climate through superior energy efficiency. What they say: “Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups.”
Gas South: The natural gas provider for Atlanta-area residents What they say: Under their Energy Saving Tips, they say “Have your furnace professionally inspected once a year.”
Energy.gov: Their mission is to make sure Americans prosper and are secure by addressing America’s energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. What they say: “Proper maintenance extends the life of your furnace or boiler and saves you money.” And, “To maintain your heating system’s efficiency and ensure healthy indoor air quality, it’s critical to maintain the unit and its venting mechanism.”

What are the benefits of yearly furnace maintenance?

Many people in the Atlanta area see furnace maintenance as a waste of money if there’s nothing wrong with the furnace. This isn’t the case, otherwise the sources mentioned recently wouldn’t suggest it. Getting a yearly furnace tune-up (even when nothing is wrong with your furnace) will:

• Lower your energy bills- Dirt builds up on your furnace’s internal parts during the summer. This makes it run inefficiently, running up your energy bills. Maintenance cleans internal parts to keep the furnace running efficiently.
• Reduce the chances of a costly breakdown- Annual maintenance catches problems before they become costly breakdowns, something you especially don’t want during a freezing winter night.
• Maintain the manufacturer’s warranty- Your furnace, like your car, needs regular maintenance to avoid voiding the warranty.

What’s the best time of the year to get my furnace maintained?

At the beginning of fall. Why? Think about it like this: if your car was going on a long road trip, when would you check the oil, tires and overall status of the car--before, during or after the trip? Obviously, you’d say before the road trip so that it doesn't break down during the middle of the trip. OK, so imagine that fall and winter are like a long road trip for your furnace. So, getting a maintenance check at the start of fall (before the road trip) is the best time.

What’s involved with Ragsdale’s furnace maintenance visit?

Check out Ragsdale furnace maintenance plan for details. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us online.