It's a good idea to get your furnace tuned before winter sets in.

You'll save money on your heating bills, extend the life of your furnace and potentially avoid expensive repair bills. It could also save your life.

Three out of every four furnace repair calls can be avoided with regular maintenance. And annual maintenance by a trained technician can extend the life of your furnace by 20 to 30 percent. That translates into an extra five or 10 years.

A properly tuned furnace also will save you 10 to 15 percent on your annul heating bills. Incomplete combustion and high flue-gas temperatures are the main causes of low heating efficiency. A competent service technician will perform a variety of tests to measure the combustion efficiency of your system both before and after tuning it.

The technician should also clean and check the burner, combustion chamber, heat exchanger and flue pipe. Pumps and fans should be lubricated, if necessary.

With boilers, the technician should take time to remove sediment from boiler and steam lines. On warm air systems the fan control and limit need to be checked and calibrated. Otherwise, the fan may operate shorter or longer than necessary, wasting energy.

When I was a young man, it was a rite of passage for many of us to learn how to tinker with our cars and do many repairs ourselves. Today's cars are too complex for that.

The same is true for modern heating equipment, which is also very complex and sophisticated. Our well-equipped service technicians have an array of electronic measuring devices and tools to properly service these units.

While heating inspections can be done any time of the year, early fall is the most popular time for most homeowners to schedule these visits. To avoid the rush, many homeowners have their fall heating inspection done as part of an annual service agreement.

Like many contractors, we give service-agreement customers priority in scheduling and discount pricing for any repairs not covered by the agreement. A service agreement's also a good way to ensure you don't forget about scheduling regular maintenance for your heating system.

Besides saving you money, annual furnace maintenance can save your life. Cracks in a heat exchanger or problems with the flue system can allow deadly carbon monoxide gas to seep into your home. Our trained technicians know how to spot danger signs in and around your heating system.

(John Ward has owned and operated Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric for more than 35 years. He is a master plumber and recognized as an industry leader for his knowledge and ethical business practices.)

By John Ward
Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric
www.applewoodfixit.com