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Health & Fitness

Keep that Furnace in Shape!

Furnaces can be a pricey replacement, and regular maintenance can greatly extend the use and efficiency of one of the most important appliances in your home!  One of the factors typically taken into consideration when purchasing a home is the age and status of the furnace- However maintenance is just as important, if not more so!  On top of general use for you and your family, it is a great idea to keep records for services performed on your furnace if you decide to sell your home in the future.

If you have a new furnace, it is still important to ensure that the filters are clean, and that the furnace is operating at its best.  Make sure you register your product with the manufacturer, as many give a pretty wide window to ensure that furnaces are registered for any manufacturer warranty programs.  If it was just installed, chances are you will be good for the season- however if it has sat the summer months, or is even just a year or so old- it is a good idea to being your maintenance program. 

Many factors impact the performance of your heating source- What type of furnace do you have? Gas, fuel oil or electric are the most common.  The type of furnace is dependent on your location, the age of your home and the cost of commodities such as natural gas and electricity.   Many homes that were built prior to city gas line installs may still have alternative methods for heat- such as fuel or electric.  Although different, each type has its positives and negatives.  Any local heating and cooling professional will be able to service, inspect and recommend proper maintenance for each type. 

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Establishing and keeping up with a routine maintenance plan can pay off big in the long run- small issues due to blocked filters can add up into high costs if the furnace abruptly stops working and you need to make an emergency service call in the middle of the night, in the dead of winter!  Furnace inspections are commonplace when purchasing a home, and home ownership should be no different- replacement costs and labor can be delayed for many years if proper care is taken.  

Trying to DIY is a possibility, however if you are like me and take one look at a maintenance checklist- Half of the terms are foreign, and not to mention we are talking about working with electricity, fire, and gas!  In my opinion, this is a job best left for the pros- Give me a call for great local providers!

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