You know the benefits of regular furnace cleaning. Your furnace functions optimally, you enjoy cleaner air, and your appliance has a long lifespan. While you might know all these benefits, there is the cost of doing it. How much does it cost to clean a furnace? You must be wondering.
It’s hard to tell the exact amount it will cost you as the cost varies depending on the furnace service provider you hire, the appliance’s age, and how long you go without cleaning the furnace. Of course, your appliance will cost you more to clean if you go for years before cleaning it.
How do you know your furnace needs cleaning?
Most experienced homeowners have a cleaning schedule, so they know when to clean their units. It’s not the same with new homeowners.
Since they haven’t lived with their appliances long enough, most new homeowners don’t know when to clean their furnaces. Are you one of these homeowners? Here are signs your furnace needs cleaning:
You moved to a new house.
Whether you are renting or you just bought a new house, you need to clean the furnace. You might reason the previous owners maintained the furnace, but how do you know it? It’s up to you to clean the furnace even if the inspection professional finds no problem with it.
This way, you have peace of mind that the furnace is in top working condition, and it will take you through the heating season with no hiccups.
There is water in the ducts.
When you replace the air filters and find them a little damp, or you look inside the ducts and find standing water, it means the furnace is dirty and needs cleaning.
Water means trouble to the furnace, but thankfully you can get rid of it by cleaning the appliance.
Inconsistent heating in the house
A properly maintained furnace should heat the entire house evenly, so if yours isn’t, you have a problem you should address. If some rooms feel cold or hotter than others, it means heat isn’t getting in the houses as it should. One reason for this is due to the dirty furnace, and all you need to do is to clean it.
You have gone for a long time without cleaning the furnace.
Can you remember the last time you cleaned the furnace? If it has been a few months or a year, you don’t need any other sign—you should clean the furnace.
What is involved in furnace cleaning?
Cleaning the furnace isn’t only about getting rid of dust and grime. It’s about keeping the system in the best possible shape, so it runs as optimally as possible. Some things involved in furnace cleaning include:
- Cleaning or replacing the air filters
- Cleaning the fans
- Removing soot or corrosion from the flame sensor, ignitor, and the exposed parts of the appliance
- A thorough inspection of the furnace, including the fuel line, venting, and other areas, to ensure there are no issues with your furnace.
Who should clean your furnace?
For best results, ensure an experienced and certified furnace technician cleans the furnace.
While you might have the impression any contractor can do the work, this isn’t the case. No two contractors are the same, so take your time and find the right one.
Reach out to five or more contractors in your local area and schedule an interview with them. During the interview, ask them about their experience. How long have they been doing it? Do they have references? Get the contacts of the references and ask them about their experience with the contractor. You want to work with a contractor that delivers great services.
You also should ensure the contractor is insured. Plenty of things can go wrong as the contractor is cleaning the furnace. The contractor can get caught in the furnace and get hurt. The technician can also fall and get injured.
You don’t want to carry the liability, do you? To protect yourself, ensure the heating service repair VA technician is insured.
Finally, ask about the cost. Don’t go for a cheap contractor, as they most likely aren’t experienced enough so they will provide a poor service. At the same time, avoid extremely expensive contractors as they might be ripping you off. Find a moderately priced contractor that knows what they are doing and work with them.
