Gas Furnace Fall Maintenance Guide

If at any point you are not comfortable, please call a licensed and trained professional.

Obvious Warning Signs

  • Louder than normal furnace? Anything weird or unusual means something is wrong.
  • Is there water surrounding the furnace? Even a little bit of water is an issue.
  • Area surrounding furnace clear of debris? Ever store cleaning products and paint cans near a source of heat like your furnace

Change the Furnace Filter

You should check your furnace filter monthly during the heating season and change it when it is dirty. Keeping the air filter clean will allow the system to run at peak airflow. If your furnace also has air conditioning, this is especially important during the months when you use your central air conditioning.

Monthly filter replacement is best for the 1” disposable filters. Most professional HVAC contractors, and Pipe Doctor included, suggest purchasing standard non-pleated filters and change them monthly. This heavy duty disposal filter on Amazon is a perfect example. A dirty filter will restrict airflow, causing the system to work harder and result in higher heating and cooling costs. Additionally, lack of airflow through the furnace will cause it to overheat and shutdown.

Check the Thermostat

Many modern thermostats are of a digital type and most require batteries to operate. These batteries are generally behind the front cover and should be changed annually – even if the battery low warning is not displayed. Pipe Doctor has been to countless service calls for “No Heat” when the only issue was weak or dead thermostat batteries.

Consider a programmable thermostat and save up to 25% on your heating expenses. Properly using a schedule to maintain different temperatures during the day (when most people are at work) and during the evening can really cut down your natural gas bill. Your local HVAC service contractor can help you select the best model for your system. Also, with many of us using smart phones and connected devices, maybe a Wifi enabled thermostat is right for you. Some models start at under $100.

Clean the Blower

When checking the filter (sometimes located in the blower compartment of the furnace), the blower assembly should be free of dirt and debris. You can use vacuum with a soft brush to clean the blower wheel and accessible parts of the motor.

Schedule an Inspection

An annual heating inspection, tuneup, combustion and draft analysis is a great way to keep your home gas furnace heating system running safely. Some HVAC contractors prefer to have tuneups scheduled at the end of the season while others schedule during the start of the heating season. A properly tuned system should ward off future problems before the occur which typically results in an expensive repair – or replacement.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness

Every floor of your home must have a carbon monoxide detector installed. Most require batteries and they should be changed annually. Additionally all CO detectors have a life span of 3 years. If your CO detector(s) are older than 3 years you should order a newer models. Amazon has a 2 pack available here for $21.99. For homeowners looking for something with more bells and whistles the Nest Protect device is a great lifesaver with notifications to your smartphone if it detects anything.

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M. De La Torre

Mike and his crew replaced my waste pipes. They took their time and did a great job making sure there were no leaks and cleaned up after they were done. Will continue to use them for other projects.

H. Bains

I have been following Mikey Pipes/ Pipe Doctor on his YouTube channel and having watched all of his videos I must say that he is one of the most honest contractors I have ever seen and his professionalism is incredible. It is so impressive that he always gets to the root of the problem quickly and always comes up with the very best solution on the spot. Anyone that hires his services must consider themselves lucky!

Parrish Family

While we live several states away, we watch the videos that Pipe Doctor releases on Youtube. Mikey is extremely responsive on their social media platforms, even to people that are not their direct customers. If Pipe Doctor ever branches out to my area, we will absolutely use them for all our HVAC and plumbing needs.

J. King

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Peggy M.

Been Relying on These Guys for Years.
Good work, fair price, quick response, and nice guys who are professional and know their stuff. They’ve never disappointed me.

R. Philip

Pipe Doctor is definitely an A++ local business that is amazingly professional, more than reasonable in pricing, and super super fast. They do not skimp in on using the best product and the services that they provide is second to none. They finished my water heater install same day in the snow within 2 hrs from call, negotiating, delivery and removal. Will use in the future without a doubt. Pipe Doctor second to none!

T. Van Buskrik

This is my second year using Pipe Doctor for my HVAC maintenance. Mike and his technicians are simply the best in the business. They arrive on time, are courteous, and most importantly they know their stuff. They do the job right.

S. Gordon

Pipe Doctor is such a pleasure to work with the customer service department is so efficient. The plumbers were on time and a pleasure to work with. Mike G is a real professional not only is he meticulous in his work, he cleans up and makes the place look cleaner than when he would started. Would highly recommend their service.

J. Pearl

Had the original boiler in our house finally go. Within 24 hours mike was here to put a brand new boiler in and we are warm again. Would definitely use pipe doctor again!

J. Miller

Mike and his crew are fantastic. Aside from exceptional work which is evident if you watch any of the YouTube clips, Mike’s knowledge is out of this world. Not only does he know his stuff, he also spent the time to make sure I had a solid background of the inner workings of the system. That’s very helpful to a homeowner!

D. Summers

My water heater stop working and I needed a replacement. I Called pipe doctor and within 3 hrs Mike showed up, looked at it, and gave me a reasonable price. Mike was very professional and did a great job. Keep up the great work!!!

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