Originally published Jan. 22, 2019, updated Jan. 21, 2022
During the cooler months in Savannah, Georgia, the temperatures can dip into the 40s, sometimes even colder, creating a need for your home’s heating system. If you haven’t been keeping up with regular furnace maintenance, you could notice a few warning signs when your furnace is running regularly.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
One of the first warning signs you might notice when your furnace is in need of a tune-up is a drop in the quality of the air you breathe. Some of the signs of poor indoor air quality include an increase in health symptoms such as congestion, sore throats, eye irritation, and coughing. If anyone in your home suffers from asthma, COPD, or other breathing conditions, poor indoor air quality could make these conditions worse.
During a routine tune-up, your HVAC technician can make sure the quality of the air in your home is healthy for everyone to breathe. As a homeowner you should check your filter every 90 days and change the filter as needed. If you own pets, filters may need to be changed more frequently.
Less Comfortable Atmosphere
A heating system that isn’t properly maintained may not be able to keep up with the needs of your household. You may keep raising the temperature on your thermostat, only to be shivering on the couch because the furnace isn’t producing enough warm air. The system may also struggle to heat certain rooms, making the problem less noticeable initially. No matter how this problem is manifesting itself, scheduling a heating tune-up could do the trick. As part of the tune-up your technician will check airflow and determine the location of problem areas.
Higher Bills Running Furnace
Some fluctuation between months is normal when it comes to utility costs, but you shouldn’t see dramatic spikes. A sudden change in heating and cooling bills could indicate a drop in efficiency. An HVAC technician can perform an inspection as part of an annual maintenance service to determine what is causing the bills to go up suddenly. A small problem, such as a damaged belt or a component that has isn’t working properly could be to blame. You could also need a larger repair, which your technician can perform.
Avoid these issues with your heating system by keeping up with regular HVAC maintenance, available through McDevitt Air.
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