A Heating System Tune-up Can Be Done Now
With spring finally here, probably one of the last things on your mind is scheduling heating system maintenance, also known as a heating oil system tune-up. But while it may seem odd at first, spring and summer are actually the best time to get your heating system maintenance done. Here’s why:
- Absence of heating emergencies. When you set up your tune-up for spring or summer, you will not be in competition for an appointment time with fellow New Jerseyans who are experiencing no-heat emergencies. Even if you don’t need anything beyond a tune-up, you’ll have a harder time securing an appointment when heating oil service providers are handling emergencies all over their service area, which is often the case at the beginning of the heating season in fall.
- Your tune-up will not wear off. When you get a tune-up months before the heating season, the service that’s done to your oil furnace or oil boiler will stick. So, you don’t have to worry that the work done in the summer will no longer have an effect by winter—this is simply not the case. Also, your tune-up might reveal a need for a heating repair or a heating system replacement, in which case an early appointment will enable you to get those tasks done with plenty of time before the cold weather returns.
How Often Should You Get a Heating Tune-Up?
Just like your car, a home’s heating system has a range of electrical and mechanical components that can wear down or break if you don’t follow your equipment manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations. The manufacturer can also void your warranty if you are negligent with equipment maintenance.
As a rule of thumb, scheduling equipment maintenance every year is often the best course of action, but that’s not always the case. Some heating oil companies will recommend scheduling a tune-up when you’ve burned about 1,000 gallons of heating oil. On average, a 2,500-square-foot home in the Northeast will use just under that amount of heating oil in a year.
So, for many homeowners, it just makes sense to tune up your heating system annually. But in some cases, your fuel usage might be low enough that you can hold off for a while. You might also have a little wiggle room if you’re using Bioheat® fuel. It’s so clean-burning that it leaves minimal carbon deposits in your equipment. Therefore, it requires less frequent “cleanings.”
5 Benefits of Regular Heating System Maintenance
Getting regular tune-ups is the most important thing you can do to ensure your equipment runs as efficiently as possible. This is among the many benefits of getting annual service done.
- Improved system efficiency, which can lower your annual heating expenses by as much as 10%. When your New Jersey heating oil service provider performs your tune-up, it ensures that your system will be working at its maximum potential. This will help you use less heating oil.
- A longer life span for your furnace or boiler. Proper maintenance is the key to extending the life of your heating oil boiler or heating oil furnace.
- Better for the planet: equipment that runs at top efficiency will emit fewer emissions.
- A tune-up allows your heating oil technician to spot minor issues before they become big problems (worn parts, a burner that needs adjustment, etc.) Problems tend to pop up during the worst times—such as when your boiler or furnace conks out during single-digit temperatures.
- Staying in compliance with your warranty: manufacturers generally require you to get regular maintenance service. If you skip a tune-up and your equipment breaks down, you could end up paying the total cost of repair.
To control your costs further, ask your full-service heating oil company if they offer equipment service plans, which cover the cost of your tune-up as well as common repairs.