YOUR HEATING SYSTEM WORKS HARD ALL WINTER. GIVE IT A CHECKUP FIRST.

When the first cold night arrives, most homeowners expect one thing from their heating system: turn up the thermostat and feel the heat.

Unfortunately, that first cold snap is also when many furnace and boiler problems make themselves known.

That’s why I recommend homeowners take care of annual heating maintenance before winter—not after there’s a problem.

A furnace or boiler may sit mostly idle for months, but once heating season begins, it can run for hours every day. Annual maintenance gives a technician an opportunity to inspect the system, clean critical components, test its operation and identify problems that could become much more noticeable when temperatures drop.

For furnaces, we’re looking at components such as burners, ignition systems, safety controls, motors, electrical connections, and the condition of the heating system as a whole. Boilers have their own maintenance needs, including controls, burners, pumps, system pressure, and proper operation of the equipment.

The goal isn’t simply to make sure the system turns on. We want to make sure it is operating properly and safely before it is asked to work its hardest.

Maintenance can also uncover smaller issues before they turn into bigger ones. A component that is beginning to fail may not prevent your system from running today, but catching it during a routine visit gives you time to address the problem instead of discovering it on a 10-degree morning.

That’s especially important with older equipment, but homeowners with newer furnaces and boilers shouldn’t assume maintenance is unnecessary. Today’s heating systems can be extremely efficient, but they also incorporate sophisticated electronics, controls, and safety systems.

“It’s very important that no matter how old your equipment is, you get it checked out,” Dale says.

Efficiency is another consideration. Dirt, improper operation, and worn components can all affect how well a heating system performs. Your furnace or boiler represents a significant part of your home’s energy use during a Chicago-area winter, so keeping it operating as designed matters.

My other advice is simple: don’t wait for the first cold week to schedule.

Every fall, heating contractors receive a surge of calls as soon as temperatures drop. Scheduling maintenance in September or early October gives you more flexibility and, more importantly, time to make a repair or discuss replacement options if we find something significant.

After decades of Chicago winters, one thing hasn’t changed: heating problems rarely happen at a convenient time.

An annual furnace or boiler maintenance visit is a relatively simple way to head into winter knowing your system has been inspected, tested, and prepared for the season ahead.

Cahill offers annual furnace maintenance for $99 and boiler maintenance for $179. To schedule your heating maintenance before the cold weather arrives, call 847-250-1866 or visit cahillheating.com.