National Furnace Tune-Up Month | OKC Heating Maintenance

If you can believe it, summer is almost officially over (first day of autumn “falls” on September 23rd). With the change of seasons comes a reminder to get your home ready for the cooler weather, which will be here before you know it.

September is National Furnace Tune-Up Month because you should always schedule your HVAC tune-ups before each heating and cooling season. That means scheduling your heating or furnace tune-up in the fall and your air conditioning tune-up in the spring.

Scheduling service early will also ensure that you receive quick service, when service demand is low. Also for this reason, tune-ups in the fall tend to be a lot cheaper than waiting until winter when demand is highest.

In order to make sure your heating system keep you warm all winter, you need to make sure it is properly maintained. Like your car, your HVAC system needs professional maintenance in order to operate safely and efficiently. The investment today will pay you (and then some!) back during the winter season.

Professional Furnace Tune-Up Maintenance Checklist

Besides the basic diagnosis and inspection of your furnace and heating system, your Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning technician will also:

• Check your flue, chimney, and vent connections for proper ventilation. Over summer, birds and wasps can build nests inside your vent piping. It’s important to clean these vent pipes out before you first turn on your furnace for the season.
• Inspect physical condition of all your heating components, including pilot, gas pressure, burner combustion, and heat exchanger.
• Check for dirt and cracks in the combustion chamber.
• Test carbon monoxide (CO) and smoke detectors.
• Clean and oil blower.
• Inspect fuel input, flame characteristics, and make sure all connections are tight.
• Check ventilation and airflow throughout the system, including your ductwork.
• Measure airflow and make any necessary adjustments.
• Check and calibrate thermostat.
• Check and tighten electrical connections.
• Test safety controls for proper operation.
• And more!

An HVAC specialist from Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning will make sure your furnace tune-up is thorough and complete. If you should have any problems post-service, we will return for a free follow-up repair until you are 100% satisfied!

We also want to make sure our customers are fully educated in order to maintain their HVAC system themselves. We will show you how to change your air filters, how to use your thermostat for maximum efficiency, and inform you of your warranties.

If you want to brush up on your HVAC vocabulary before your technician arrives to tune up your system, check out our HVAC Terms & Definitions blog.

Heating maintenance has never been easier! Call Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning today at (405) 794-8900.

Working with a Heating & Cooling Contractor

Don’t trust just anyone for the job of maintaining your HVAC equipment. Make sure your heating and cooling contractor is qualified for the job:

• Do research online
• Call for references
• Look for trust badges and guarantees
• Expect a home evaluation and written, upfront estimates
• Ask how disputes are resolved
• Look for license numbers, liability insurance, and warranty information
• Check that technicians are insured, background checked and drug tested
• Consult this ENERGYSTAR Heating & Cooling Guide for more information

Besides the important task of scheduling furnace maintenance in the fall, here are some things you should be doing as a homeowner to ensure you

DIY Homeowner Furnace Tune-Up

Use this do-it-yourself homeowner checklist to save money, energy, and help fight global warming:

• Check air filters every 30 days and wait no longer than 90 days to replace/clean them.
• Test smoke and CO detectors every 30 days.
• Program my thermostat to turn off while away from home or asleep.
• Seal air leaks around the home.
• Inspect your fire extinguisher(s) and make sure it is the right “class.”
• Give your house a deep clean. Less dust in your home means less dirt and debris in your HVAC system.
• Get your chimney sweeped/cleaned if you have one.
• Inspect your roof and schedule professional maintenance/repairs if necessary.

Watch this video for some more general advice for maintaining an efficient furnace:

For more energy-saving tips and tricks, read our other blog posts on the topic of Fall Home Maintenance:

• Outdoor Home Maintenance Tasks for Fall
• Overall HVAC Maintenance Checklist
• How to Properly Inspect Your Air Ducts 

For anything that you have questions about, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 405-794-8900. We want to make sure you are fully informed about how your heating & cooling system works.

To schedule your fall furnace tune-up, we’d love to assist you. You can schedule service online or give us a call: 405-794-8900.

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