New Furnace? Don’t Neglect Maintenance and Void Your Warranty!
Have you installed a brand new furnace in the past! year? It probably cost you a pretty penny, but you’re now happy to be luxuriating in reliable and consistent warmth. No more worries about coming into the building in the morning and discovering that your office is an ice box.
You may think you’re done worrying about your HVAC system for a little while. Unfortunately, that’s not the smartest decision. Your installer may have mentioned that your new furnace needs regular maintenance to keep it running at its best. Don’t dismiss this advice as just a way for them to get more money out of you!
Why maintain a piece of equipment that’s so new? There are a number of reasons that it’s in your best interest to do preventative maintenance on your furnace. But here’s one you may not be aware of: you can void the manufacturer’s warranty on the equipment if you don’t. Read the fine print on your warranty. Chances are, you’ll discover a clause that requires you to prove you’ve had the unit maintained over the years in order to make a warranty claim.
HVAC equipment is designed to last for a specified number of years, with the assumption that the equipment is properly taken care of. If that care is neglected, parts wear out sooner and unexpected breakdowns can occur. Manufacturers include maintenance requirements on warrantied equipment because they understand how important it is to keep it running reliably.
Here’s why maintenance is important to your equipment’s manufacturer, and why it should be important to you:
1. Damage from accumulated dust and debris is avoided.
Take your furnace’s air filter as an example. Depending on your system and usage, it may need to be changed every couple of months to keep dust out of the equipment that can cause damage. If you wait a year or longer to start doing maintenance, a year’s worth of dust is already shortening the life of your furnace.
2. Parts last longer.
When dirt and grime build up on your furnace’s parts, particularly valves, fans and motors, it causes additional wear and tear because the parts have to work harder to do their job. Having your equipment cleaned regularly keeps all the parts working as designed and helps them last longer. This also lessens the chance of an expected breakdown. It’s not uncommon even for relatively new equipment to stop working due to a clogged valve or fan motor that has seized because of accumulated debris.
3. Impending problems can be prevented.
Something as small as a loose wire can cause you to suddenly have no heat. Furnaces vibrate, and all that shaking can cause problems with electrical connections. When your system is regularly inspected by an experienced HVAC service professional, he can spot small issues like this and fix them before they take down your system and lead to more expensive repairs.
4. Energy efficiency is increased.
This is not a myth! Dust in the air filter makes the system work harder to heat the space. Dirt can cause the ignition system to malfunction, or valves to get stuck, which causes the system to run more than it needs to, using more fuel in the process. You can save 15 to 20 percent on your energy bills each year when you regularly service your HVAC equipment.
Choose the right service provider to ensure your eligibility for warranty service if needed
Using a reputable that has proven expertise with your brand of equipment is essential. Look for a company that MSCA or NATE certified, and ask if they have experience with the furnace and air conditioning systems you have. Also ask about the parts they use.
Some vendors may use cheaper, off-brand parts that can also void your warranty, since the manufacturer won’t take responsibility for any damage they may cause.
Your furnace may be out of sight, but don’t let it be out of mind once it’s installed. Neglecting HVAC equipment maintenance can cost your business in many ways that you may not realize.
Now that you know what’s at stake, your next step is to understand what an annual preventative maintenance actually entails to make sure you get the service that’s right for you. Unfortunately, there is no industry standard, so it can be tricky to compare prices. To learn more, grab a copy of our free guide: HVAC Preventative Maintenance Contracts: How to Find the Right One for Your HVAC Infrastructure.
