Annual Furnace Maintenance: The Complete Guide

Did you know that only 30% of homeowners schedule preventative maintenance on their heating systems? That means most households are throwing away hundreds of dollars each year in wasted energy and unnecessary repairs. It’s true! Studies show that regular maintenance reduces your energy bills by 15-25% — that’s money that could be better spent on your family, your hobbies, or your next vacation!

Whether you’ve neglected maintenance or not, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about annual furnace maintenance and answer some of the most common questions homeowners have.

Breaking Down What Furnace Maintenance Entails

When you schedule a furnace maintenance visit with Jack Lehr, you take the first step towards a warmer, safer, and more efficient home. Our technicians start with a detailed look at how your furnace burns fuel. This is called a “combustion analysis,” and it’s the cornerstone of our maintenance process. 

During this check, we’re not just making sure your furnace is working—we’re optimizing its performance and keeping an eye out for any potential safety issues, like gas and carbon monoxide leaks.

But we don’t stop there. We inspect and clean key components like the blower and burner, check and replace filters if needed, and make sure all the safety systems are functioning properly. We’re also looking for signs of wear and tear that could lead to problems down the line, and we’re fine-tuning your system to help you save on energy bills. 

Maintenance like this isn’t just for preventing surprise breakdowns; it can actually extend the life of your furnace and save you money in the long run! 

Annual Furnace Maintenance Checklist

1. Combustion Analysis

•  Check fuel-to-air ratio for efficient combustion
•  Inspect heat exchanger for potential leaks
•  Ensure proper burner alignment
•  Balance combustion air supply

2. Safety Checks

•  Test pressure switch for proper venting of exhaust gases
•  Perform gas leak detection
•  Conduct carbon monoxide testing

3. Component Inspection & Cleaning

•  Examine and clean blower
•  Inspect and clean burner
•  Check and replace air filter if necessary

4. System Optimization

•  Assess and adjust combustion air levels
•  Fine-tune system for optimal energy efficiency

5. Preventive Care

•  Look for signs of wear and tear on all components
•  Identify potential issues before they become major problems

6. Safety & Performance Verification

•  Ensure all safety systems are functioning correctly
•  Verify improved system efficiency

If you haven’t gotten your furnace serviced, it’s not too late! Schedule a maintenance appointment with Jack Lehr today. 

Annual Furnace Maintenance FAQs

Our annual furnace maintenance checklist is a great starting point. But if you’re looking for more information, keep reading — we’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions homeowners have about their heating systems.

Is Furnace Maintenance Really Necessary? 

You might be wondering, “Do I really need to service my furnace every year?” The short answer is yes, and here’s why:

First and foremost, annual maintenance is about safety. Your furnace is a complex machine that deals with gas, electricity, and heat—a combination that can be dangerous if not properly maintained. 

During a maintenance visit, a technician will carefully inspect your furnace for any potential safety hazards, such as gas leaks, carbon monoxide issues, or electrical problems. 

But safety isn’t the only reason to prioritize annual furnace maintenance. Regular maintenance also keeps your furnace running at peak efficiency. Just like a well-tuned car gets better gas mileage, a well-maintained furnace uses fuel more efficiently. This means it doesn’t have to work as hard to heat your home, lowering energy bills.

Lastly, annual checkups are a smart investment in your furnace’s longevity. By catching and correcting minor issues before they escalate, you can avoid major breakdowns and extend the life of your furnace. 

So, while it might be tempting to skip annual furnace maintenance to save a few bucks, the truth is that it can cost you more in the long run—in energy bills, repair costs, and even the premature need for a new furnace.

How Often Do I Need Furnace Maintenance? 

The industry standard is annual servicing, meaning once per year. Ideally, you should schedule maintenance for the fall before you start using your heating system regularly. This timing is perfect for a few reasons:

1. It Keeps Your Furnace Ready to Go

There’s nothing worse than turning on your heat on the first cold day of the year only to discover your furnace isn’t working correctly. Fall maintenance lets you start the heating season with confidence.

2. It Gives You Time to Schedule Repairs. 

If your technician finds an issue during the maintenance visit, you’ll have plenty of time to get it fixed before the cold weather sets in.

3. HVAC technicians are Less Busy in the Fall 

Once winter hits and furnaces break down, HVAC companies get swamped with emergency calls. By scheduling your maintenance in the fall, you’ll have an easier time getting an appointment that fits your schedule.

How Much Does Furnace Maintenance Cost?

Of course, one of the top questions on every homeowner’s mind is, “How much is this going to cost me?” The answer can vary quite a bit depending on where you live, the type of furnace you have, and the company you hire.

On average, you can expect to pay between $100 and $200 for a thorough furnace maintenance visit. This typically includes a comprehensive inspection, cleaning of key components, and minor adjustments as needed.

Some HVAC companies offer maintenance plans or service contracts. Under these arrangements, you pay a set annual fee, receive regular visits, and sometimes additional perks like discounts on repairs or priority scheduling. These plans can offer good value if you’re committed to consistent maintenance.

It’s also worth noting that some higher-end furnaces may require more specialized servicing and thus cost more to maintain. However, these costs are often offset by the increased efficiency and longevity of the unit.

While $100 to $200 might seem like a significant expense, it’s helpful to view furnace maintenance as an investment rather than a cost. In many cases, the money you save on your utility costs can more than make up for the cost of annual maintenance over time.

What Happens if I Neglect Maintenance?

While it might be tempting to put it off, especially if your furnace seems to be running fine, neglecting annual maintenance can lead to a host of problems. Here are three of the most common: 

Reduced Efficiency

One of the first things you might notice is reduced efficiency. When a furnace isn’t regularly cleaned and adjusted, it has to work harder to produce and distribute heat. This means it uses more fuel and energy to do its job, leading to higher utility bills for you. In fact, a neglected furnace can lose up to 5% of its efficiency each year it goes without maintenance!

Wear & Tear

But reduced efficiency is just the start. Over time, lack of maintenance can cause increased wear and tear on your furnace’s components. Small issues that could have been caught and corrected during a maintenance visit are allowed to escalate, leading to more frequent breakdowns. In some cases, the damage may be so severe that it’s more cost-effective to replace the furnace entirely, even if it should have had years of life left.

Safety Risks

Perhaps most concerning, however, are the potential safety risks of a poorly maintained furnace. A furnace that isn’t regularly serviced is more likely to develop gas leaks, which can lead to fire or explosion. It’s also at higher risk for carbon monoxide leaks. 

So, while skipping furnace maintenance might save you a little money in the short term, it’s a gamble that’s not worth taking. The potential costs—to your wallet, your comfort, and your safety—are simply too high.

Schedule Your Annual Furnace Maintenance with Jack Lehr Today!

Lower energy bills, fewer repairs, and a longer-lasting furnace—all with one simple step! Schedule your annual furnace maintenance with Jack Lehr. For over 50 years, we’ve helped homeowners like you catch minor issues before they get the chance to become bigger problems.