How Often Should I Have My Heater Inspected?

Winter is right around the corner, and if you’re like many Americans, you’re probably gearing up to use your heater a lot more over the next few months. And whether you use a furnace, boiler, heat pump, or another kind of heating system, it is essential that you periodically have your equipment serviced. “But how often should I have my heater inspected?”, you may be asking. You definitely don’t want to let your system lie dormant for too long, and end up dealing with unexpected problems when you do finally need to turn it on. However, you also don’t want to have to call for maintenance only to find out that your unit is in perfect condition.

Here’s the thing: how often you need to have your heater serviced and inspected depends almost entirely on usage, and heater usage depends almost entirely on where you live. If you happen to reside in a warmer climate, chance are heating service is not going to be at the top of your to-do list. On the other hand, if you live in a part of the country with harsh, severe winters, it is likely essential that you have your heating system serviced every year, if not multiple times a year. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about heaters and how they function based on region, and remember that our HVAC experts at Roby Services are always available for your heating installation and replacement needs.

Heater Inspections Based on Climate:

• For Parts of the Country with Cold Winters: If you live in a part of the country with cold winter weather, you’re probably going to want to have your heater inspected every 6-12 months. We’re talking about regions where the winter routinely brings several feet of snow, severe storms, and extreme wind-chill. If you have settled somewhere where this is the norm (i.e. the Midwest, parts of the East Coast, Alaska,) then you already know how important functioning heating equipment is when the winter temperatures reach their lowest. The last thing you want is to wake up on Christmas morning and find out that your heater is busted, so if you are located in an area with cold winters and have not had your heater serviced for a year or more, call ASAP to have a professional HVAC technician take a look at it.
• For Parts of the Country with Mild Winters: Okay, say you live in a part of the country where you see some frost every winter, maybe lows in the 20s and 30s, but never below zero, then you should probably have your heater inspected once a year. An annual maintenance check and tune-up will ensure that your heater is always ready to face the annual freeze, and is ready in case something crazy happens (we are living in the time of global warming after all, and even states like California have received unexpected snowfalls in recent years.) If your heater is brand new and has been installed properly, it is possible you could go up to two years without having it inspected. Still, to guarantee that you avoid issues like clogged flues or loose seals (which are extremely dangerous for your entire household) don’t creep up on you, an annual inspection is never a bad idea, just for your own peace of mind.
• For Parts of the Country with No Winter or Extremely Mild Winters: If you live in a region like Southern Florida, Hawaii, or another climate that barely experiences winter weather, you may be able to go 2-5 years without having your heater serviced. Yes, you heard it here first, from your friendly, local HVAC technicians at Roby Services, you can possibly go FIVE WHOLE YEARS without a heater tune-up, depending on what type of equipment you have. If you live in this type of region, it is likely your house’s HVAC system features an electric-only heater, and sometimes, that heater isn’t used at all in a year. Houses in these areas often aren’t even built for frequent heater use, and sometimes, homeowners in such regions can even go several years without turning the heat on. Nevertheless, it is good to keep in mind that we’re talking about complex pieces of equipment, which, ideally, shouldn’t languish for too long, just collecting dust. Even if you live in an extremely warm region, it’s not a bad idea to have a professional check that your system’s filter is clean, its wires are in good shape, and the unit isn’t too clogged with dirt and debris. After all, you do not want to be without the option of heat if an unseasonably cold winter should strike. If you live in a part of the country like this, and you can’t remember the last time your heater was inspected, now is probably a good time to have it serviced.

Looking to have a professional take a look at your heater? Contact Roby Services today! We are available by phone at (980) 308-0200, or you can schedule service online.