About two years ago, my furnace quit during a particularally nasty blizzard.
- The outdoor temperature was down to downside 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 loft was cold cold. I checked the temperature control, tried installing current batteries and also updated 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 however to call for emergency repairs and spend money the overtime fees! Fortunately, I was able to find a local Heating, Ventilation & A/C contractor who was willing to brave the inclement weather and icy roads to supply service. When the specialist checked 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 temperature control setting. The added workload led to the furnace overheating and shutting down; A thorough cleaning of all components restored regular operation. That simple service ended up being quite costly and could have been prevented with seasonal service. After that, I enrolled in a service program with the Heating, Ventilation & A/C contractor that includes a tune-up every fall. A thorough complicationshooting, 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.