A Guide To Winter Furnace Maintenance In Indiana

Furnace maintenance contributes to more than just having a comfortable home in the wintertime. It can also prevent costly repairs down the road. Learn more about furnace maintenance in Indiana in this guide! 

Why Winter Furnace Maintenance Matters More in Indiana

The truth is that heating season begins a little earlier than most of us would like here in Indiana. That means our furnaces are chugging and chugging for more months of the year than not. This can put enormous strain on them, which creates risks for everything from energy inefficiency to complete furnace breakdowns.

Luckily, some basic furnace maintenance in winter in Indiana goes a long way. Let’s cover what you need to know to save energy, stop heat loss, and keep a furnace of any age running year-round efficiently.

How Do Indiana Winters Put Extra Stress on Your Heating System?

It’s those wild Indiana temperature swings that keep so many furnaces struggling. As you know, it’s common to see big temperature fluctuations between fall and winter. Once the winter season kicks in fully, cold snaps come roaring at us pretty regularly.

On average, Indianapolis sees around 100 days with temperatures below freezing per year. However, we also get some milder lulls in between jumps. All of this makes Central Indiana furnaces work so much harder compared to furnaces in milder climates. Over time, the extreme performance needed accelerates wear on moving parts and key components that can eventually cause performance issues or safety hazards.

What Happens to Your Energy Bills When You Skip Annual Maintenance?

You might think your furnace is fine because you don’t smell anything coming from your furnace room or see soot settling on surfaces in your home. However, common furnace issues that lead to expensive repairs or replacements aren’t always easy to catch at first. Over time, “gunk” buildup and strain on your furnace’s mechanical parts slowly stress and wear down the unit. That’s why so many “sudden” furnace problems are actually months or years in the making.

While adding one more item to your to-do list and a fee to pay feels tempting to skip, skipping your furnace tune-up can cost you in more ways than one. Annual furnace maintenance can add years to your furnace’s lifespan by slowing wear and tear. Skipping furnace maintenance in Indiana can mean:

• Decreased efficiency that makes your furnace work harder for worse results.
• Higher energy costs due to an overloaded or dirty furnace doing extra work just to achieve your set temperature.
• A shorter system lifespan overall could have you shopping for a new furnace prematurely by a few years.
• Unpredictable and fluctuating indoor air temperatures or cold spots that make your home feel less comfortable.
• Costly emergency repairs down the road.

At HomeSense, we use preventative HVAC maintenance and heating system maintenance to keep homeowners ahead of furnace problems through every season. We know exactly what furnace maintenance in Central Indiana means because this is where we live and work. Ultimately, there’s nothing better than knowing your well-maintained furnace won’t force you to react in panic when something goes wrong.

When Should Indiana Homeowners Schedule a Furnace Tune-Up?

If it’s been a while since you last had an HVAC tune-up or furnace inspection, the time to schedule is ASAP. Once you’re back on track with proper maintenance, you can create a schedule for routine checkups. You will probably need an annual tune-up to start things off if it’s been more than a year.

A one-time furnace tune-up is just a basic single-service visit where an HVAC tech does a thorough cleaning. They may also test controls, lubricate parts, verify thermostat settings, and replace a dirty air filter to help prevent clogs. A tune-up is great for keeping your furnace running optimally and catching any early furnace warning signs.

While you should ideally be having a furnace tune-up done every year or so, it can also be an “emergency” service that’s done if you notice warning signs like a furnace not heating, cool air in your home, or a furnace short-cycling.

A tune-up is a little different from an annual furnace maintenance contract. Maintenance is a recurring service that often includes visits in the spring and fall. In addition to including a professional inspection, a furnace maintenance package for Indiana homeowners might also include priority service and pricing for things like emergency repairs or parts replacements. A package can also be vital for making sure you have warranty compliance for your HVAC system.

How Often Does a Furnace Need to Be Serviced?

The answer for how often to service a furnace varies by HVAC system and household. If you have an older system or a very heavy-use household, you’ll probably benefit from more frequent professional inspection. Ideally, regular maintenance should happen one to two times per year, depending on the age of the furnace. The most optimal time is during the fall, before that first big cold snap hits. That’s because ramping up after being dormant all summer long can really tax a furnace.

Early fall is a good time for a checkup because most of your neighbors have the same idea. Even the end of summer works if you’re worried about availability.

What Does a Professional Winter Furnace Tune-Up Include?

During a tune-up, your HVAC tech will go through a full furnace maintenance checklist covering multiple inspections and cleaning points. This usually includes:

• Inspecting and cleaning the heat exchanger: Your furnace’s heat exchanger transfers heat generated by combustion gases outside to keep dangerous fumes and carbon monoxide out of your home while keeping safe, breathable air inside. It’s important to check for leaks that could put your home at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning or degrade indoor air quality.
• Checking burners and ignition systems for safety hazards: This is important for preventing fire risks and gas leaks.
• Thermostat checks: Whether you have a programmable or smart thermostat, your HVAC tech will audit your thermostat settings and controls to ensure they’re functioning correctly and giving you accurate readings.
• Parts inspections: An inspection checklist covers things like the blower motor, belts, and moving parts to check for broken components and lubricate anything that’s lagging.
• Venting: A comprehensive checklist should always cover ductwork, venting, and your home’s flue to check for loose connections, blockages, or signs of venting issues.
• Airflow checks: Techs have special tests that are done to confirm consistent and unobstructed airflow after opening the vents. To prevent heat loss and preserve furnace lifespan, it’s crucial to seal air leaks and seal gaps.
• Efficiency review: Improved efficiency can create significant cost savings regardless of your furnace’s age. This is why an overall energy-efficiency test is done during an inspection to catch major problems that can increase your energy bills today while also boosting your system’s lifespan.

Does Furnace Maintenance Also Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Always remember that the air that flows through your home’s HVAC system is the air that your entire household breathes. A well-maintained heating system means cleaner indoor air. When we skip inspections, our HVAC systems become overrun with dust buildup from dirty air filters and blocked vents. Bringing in a professional HVAC technician to clean your system on the inside and outside gives you the whole-home comfort and peace of mind that only comes from having a well-maintained furnace.

What Can Indiana Homeowners Do to Maintain Their Furnace Between Visits?

There’s no gatekeeping to heating system maintenance. There’s so much you can do to cut your energy bills and prevent potential issues just by becoming a little familiar with your home’s HVAC system.

Of course, there will be things that only expert technicians should handle at certain points. Here’s where you can take over:

• Air filters: Replace air filters regularly. Depending on filter size and use, that means once every one to six months. Homes with pets or high dust levels may need filter replacements more often. Dirty air filters reduce airflow and make your furnace less efficient.
• Clean vents and registers: This is the secret to fighting cold spots in your home because it keeps airflow smooth and even.
• Seal air leaks: Look around your home for any gaps around doors and windows or other sources of air leaks. Sealing these “escape” spots goes a long way toward reducing heat loss and keeping strain off your HVAC system.
• Clean the furnace area: Declutter the area around the furnace. A crowded furnace room can actually reduce your furnace’s efficiency. Additionally, any flammable materials in your furnace room pose fire risks for your house.
• Be vigilant for furnace warning signs: Get in the habit of checking on your furnace regularly to spot any abnormalities. Some warning signs to watch for between tune-ups include unusual sounds, constant short cycling, uneven heating in your home, and suspiciously high energy bills.

What Warning Signs Mean It’s Time to Call a Professional Right Away?

It’s always a relief when you can nip a furnace problem in the bud with DIY. However, it’s also important to know when calling an HVAC pro near you in Indiana makes more sense. While a lot of furnace issues can be handled with “watch and wait” for the time being, there are some furnace symptoms that need fast attention. Here are some signs that you’re better off making the call:

• Your carbon monoxide detector is showing elevated levels. This often means that there’s a combustion issue or broken heat exchanger. In either case, your furnace is having a dangerous malfunction. Be sure to evacuate the home first before you place a call.
• Your furnace is blowing cool air. The odd sensation of your furnace blowing cold air is usually caused by a dirty air filter. However, your furnace not heating could also be caused by a more serious issue like overheating or an igniter failure.
• Cold spots spanning multiple rooms in your house. This is a distribution issue that could have something to do with leaking or broken ductwork. It could also point to severe airflow restriction that’s putting the whole system at risk for overheating or dumping hazardous exhaust inside your home.
• You notice a yellow or flickering pilot light. If you notice a yellow or flickering light, turn off the unit immediately before placing a call to a local HVAC tech. This is an indicator that your furnace is experiencing excessive carbon monoxide buildup or a lack of oxygen.
• You’re smelling sulfur, burning, or rotten eggs. Depending on the type of furnace you have, these strange smells can point to carbon monoxide leaks, electrical failure, or a gas leak. All warrant a call to 911 and swift evacuation from your home. If you have gas, you should also place a call to the gas company.
• Your furnace is short-cycling when temperatures are at freezing or below. Short cycling that happens in freezing temperatures is a red flag because it places extreme strain on your furnace’s mechanical parts. Under these conditions, safety features on your furnace could shut down to leave your home unheated and vulnerable to frozen, bursting pipes. The extreme cycling could also break important components like your heat exchanger or sensors.

How to Choose the Right Furnace Maintenance Plan in Indiana

Getting on a furnace maintenance plan before that first cold snap hits can feel like such a relief. However, you may be unsure about what’s actually important when purchasing this type of agreement. Here are some of the key features of a good HVAC company maintenance plan:

• Priority scheduling
• No after-hours fees for calls
• Waived HVAC diagnostic fee
• Annual HVAC inspection included
• Preferred or discounted member rates for HVAC repairs
• Perks like free water softener salt
• Special member discounts for new HVAC systems and water heater systems

It’s also important to select an Indiana HVAC company offering no-pressure service. That means they don’t push services or upgrades you don’t need or aren’t interested in with every service call or routine checkup. Of course, you want to make sure you’re choosing an experienced company offering comprehensive services for those times when you are ready to upgrade to a system that best fits your needs.

With many HVAC maintenance packages starting at $15 per month, homeowners stand to save so much over time by making their furnaces as efficient as possible and avoiding the need for reactive or “panic” repairs. Most plans honestly pay for themselves when you factor in the cost savings that come from a furnace that runs efficiently.

Wondering where to start with getting affordable furnace service in Indiana? HomeSense’s Preventative Maintenance Membership offers peace of mind with reasonable rates that entitle you to up to two inspections per year with written reports, scheduled visits, honest assessments, and zero upselling pressure when we show up to get the task done. You select the tier you want based on the level of service you anticipate needing in the year ahead. You can even add on extras like duct cleaning and air-quality testing.

How Long Does a Well-Maintained Furnace Last in Indiana?

The great news is that a well-loved furnace will keep your home comfortable for years to come. Most furnaces have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years with proper maintenance. The secret to keeping a furnace in top condition in Indiana—even when the winter months refuse to go easy on it—is consistent care. Keeping up with things like lubricating mechanical parts and changing filters allows your furnace to work at its top potential without getting strained. There’s no better way to lower your energy costs without major upgrades.

Of course, no furnace lasts forever. Your furnace may be nearing the end of its life if you’re finding yourself needing repeated repairs that now exceed its actual value. Your furnace could also be telling you that it’s reached its lifespan if you’re seeing your bill increase by 20% without any changes in your household use. In a situation like this, the efficiency loss is caused by the furnace’s struggle to operate.

With HomeSense’s “built to last” philosophy, you can rest assured that the priority will always be a well-maintained heating system. Our techs will do what it takes to keep your furnace operating at its best capacity, regardless of its age. For decades, we’ve worked hard to keep families throughout Indiana comfortable through the coldest months!

If you’re ready to head into winter without furnace worries this year, come learn more about an HVAC maintenance plan in Indiana that’s right for your furnace age and type. Contact us today to get started.