Get Good Service By Following Furnace Repair Recommendations

When the weather turns cold isn’t the time to get a furnace cleaned and serviced. Unfortunately, sometimes homeowners forget this essential maintenance until Old Man Winter blows into town. Whatever the time, a homeowner can get good service by following furnace repair recommendations from consumer groups.

Consumer protection organizations such as the Better Business Bureau offer several tips for choosing a reputable and qualified furnace repair service.

First, never hire anyone who solicits your business blindly over the telephone, even if they offer “free” or “low cost” air conditioner. In most cases, these solicitors are simply trying to get someone into your home to take a quick look at your heater and then frighten you with a report that you have serious, possibly even hazardous, defects in your furnace. If the solicitor tries to pressure you over the telephone, just hang up. Yes, it’s rude, but you don’t owe a stranger any courtesy when they try to intrude on your life.

Next, don’t give any time to door-to-door laborers offering to clean your air ducts with a “shop-vac.” Number one, nobody can get air ducts clean with a shop vac; it takes a high-powered vacuum system. Number two, the person at the door could be as much a scam artist as the telephone solicitor. Don’t risk it.

Don’t be fooled into hiring a company because its “inspector” says the home heating system poses a serious health hazard. If someone gives you this kind of report, ask for a written copy of the report and the consult with the local utility service.

When told that your furnace needs major repairs, get a minimum of three independent written inspection reports from qualified, licensed companies. Check each report to make sure it includes complete descriptions of the parts or materials needed, the services involved, warranty, the unit’s energy efficiency ranking, and the total price. If the estimate doesn’t have this information, ask for it.

Keep up home maintenance of the furnace by cleaning the air return vents with a home vacuum cleaner. Change the filter a minimum of three times, preferably monthly, during cold seasons requiring indoor heating.

Be sure to check the original warranty if faced with major repairs or replacement. In many cases a warranty will be invalid if the furnace hasn’t been properly maintained. Should a new furnace be necessary, get a unit that’s big enough for the household’s needs, but no bigger. It wastes both energy and money to install a unit larger than necessary.

To keep the furnace in good working order, as well as keeping the warranty in force, get the unit cleaned and tested on a yearly basis. Gas heating systems should be cleaned at least every other year, while units that run on fuel oil must be cleaned annually.

Save money by contracting with a reliable home services company for annual maintenance on your home heating unit. Get suggestions from co-workers, neighbors and relatives on firms that have worked well for them. Research likely candidates through local consumer advocate groups and professional organizations to verify their qualifications and performance.

When interviewing candidates for heating service, always ask detailed questions. A good method is to write down the type of furnace you have and then ask for an estimate on service for that model, including all related charges. A reliable company should give you a response promptly and without hesitation. If the company representative takes a long time to answer your question, it could be an indication of poor performance, questionable practices or both.

Heeding these furnace repair recommendations will keep you warm and happy when it’s cold outside.

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