About two years ago, my furnace quit during a particularly nasty blizzard.
The outdoor temperature was down to negative twenty degrees with a brutal wind chill.
There was several feet of snow accumulated on the ground and several more inches expected overnight. I woke up at around three o’clock in the morning because the house was freezing cold. I checked the thermostat, tried installing new batteries and also replaced the furnace’s air filter. I made sure the breaker hadn’t tripped and pushed the reset button on the heater. Nothing worked. I had no choice but to call for emergency repairs and pay the overtime fees. Fortunately, I was able to find a local HVAC contractor who was willing to brave the inclement weather and icy roads to provide service. When the technician inspected the furnace, he found a considerable accumulation of dust, grime and other contaminants within the unit. This buildup had blocked the flow of air through the system, causing it to run more often and struggle to achieve the thermostat setting. The added workload led to the furnace overheating and shutting down. A thorough cleaning of all components restored proper operation. That simple repair ended up being quite expensive and could have been prevented with seasonal maintenance. After that, I enrolled in a service program with the HVAC company that includes a tune-up every fall. A thorough troubleshooting, adjustment and cleaning fulfills the manufacturer’s warranty requirements and ensures that the heating system is prepared for upcoming demands. I can be sure that the furnace is operating at peak efficiency and reliability. I can also expect it to last longer.