Between professional lawn care and raking, you typically do a good deal of work to prep your yard for colder temps. In your home, your furnace is similar. It also needs tune-ups to keep it working smoothly all through the fall and winter.

But how frequently should you tune up your furnace in Portland? What if it’s newer? Or operating well? Is maintenance needed then? Let’s review why furnace maintenance is necessary and how often you should book it.

Why Furnace Service Is Essential

Your furnace is crucial to keeping your house cozy during cold temps. When it’s well-maintained, you’ll get reliable, efficient heat. If you frequently skip maintenance, your furnace can accumulate grit. This can make your furnace work48} more and, consequently, increase your gas costs. A lack of service can also result in your furnace breaking down, saddling you with expensive repair bills that could have been preventable in many cases.

One of the most important tasks you can do without help is frequently replacing your furnace’s air filter. When your filter gets too dirty, your furnace may start responding by doing something known as short cycling, where it turns on and off more often to avoid overheating. Apart from the fact that this affects your utility costs, it also affects your furnace’s lifetime since it’s on more frequently.

If you’re using a flat filter, we suggest putting in a new one at minimum monthly. Pleated filters can work up to three months. A simple method to check whether you need to replace your filter is by taking it out and tilting it toward the light. If you don’t notice light through it, you’re due to get a new one.

However, how often you should replace your filter is contingent upon how frequently your furnace runs, if you have dogs or cats and if anyone in your residence has allergies. The Three Rivers Heating & Cooling specialists can provide support if you don’t know how frequently you should replace your filter or what the right type is for your residence.

How Often You Should Request Furnace Maintenance

We recommend scheduling furnace maintenance in Portland once a year, ideally during the time between air conditioning and heating time. This will give you a head start just in case you need any repairs and will verify you get stress-free warmth during the winter. It also keeps your manufacturer’s warranty intact, which is important if you have a new furnace.

Besides getting a new air filter and keeping your register grates free of dirt, we don’t suggest trying furnace maintenance without professional help. Your furnace is a complex appliance that requires assistance from a heating and cooling specialist. All our friendly Three Rivers Heating & Cooling technicians have gone through in-depth education to better assist you. They’re also totally licensed and insured, providing you peace of mind that your heating system is in good hands.

Here are some of things we’ll perform on our maintenance visit:

  • Inspect crucial parts of your furnace, including the heat exchanger, blower and burner.
  • Clean the interior of your furnace, such as the flame sensor, burner and blower.
  • Inspect the flue to ensure it’s venting correctly.
  • Test total furnace system for safety and ideal heat.

Right away is an excellent time to request your furnace maintenance appointment with Three Rivers Heating & Cooling. Our specialists are here to help you experience a stress-free winter with energy-efficient heating. Contact us at 503-213-4433 to schedule your appointment right away, and don’t forget to check our offers for exclusive discounts on your next maintenance appointment.