While most homeowners may not realize it, numerous things are working to keep you comfortable in your home. These things aren’t often thought about until they break, causing discomfort in one way or another.
One of these “things” at work is your home’s oil furnace.
Keeping your oil furnace in working order (and thus staying warm in the coldest months) requires regular maintenance. How often does an oil furnace need to be serviced? Continue reading to learn the answer to this question and much more.
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How Often Does My Oil Furnace Need to Be Serviced?
You should have your oil furnace serviced at least once a year. If the furnace is used more than average, you’ll want to schedule routine service every six months. A furnace may be used more often in freezing climates or areas with long winters.
How Often Should the Oil Tank Filter Be Replaced?
The oil tank filter should be replaced every year. If you hire a professional to service the oil furnace, they’ll generally replace the oil filter during each scheduled service.
You may occasionally need to replace your furnace’s oil tank filter more often. If you notice your unit is working less efficiently than usual, it may be a sign your oil filter needs changing.
How Often Should the Furnace Filter Be Replaced?
The furnace filter is responsible for reducing allergens in the air and generally controlling the air quality in your home. It traps dust and other allergens before it has a chance to circulate in your home.
Replace the furnace filter every 3 months
How often you should be changing the furnace filter depends on many factors. Most people can get away with changing these filters every three months.
Reasons you’d need to change your filter more often:
In some circumstances, homeowners will want to change their furnace filters every one to two months. Some common circumstances requiring more frequent replacement include:
- If you leave the windows open for long periods
- If you own pets (especially those with long hair)
- If someone in your home has asthma, severe allergies, or other respiratory issues
- If anyone smokes inside your home
- If your house is prone to a lot of dust
If one of the circumstances above applies to you, plan on changing your furnace filter every two months. If two or more of the situations above applies, you should change your furnace filter every month.
What’s Included in a Routine Oil Furnace Inspection and Cleaning?
During a routine oil furnace service, the unit will be checked to see if there are any apparent issues.
If there are issues, the service technician will let you know what they are and how much they would cost to fix. It’s your decision whether to move forward with the necessary repairs or not, but it’s highly recommended you do.
The service technician will also change your oil filter and wipe everything down. They’ll vacuum out the motor and draft regulator and clean the blower. There may be other maintenance done on your unit.
Why Is It Important to Maintain a Consistent Service Schedule?
There are many reasons to maintain a consistent service schedule. One of the primary reasons is efficiency. When a unit is well taken care of, it’s better able to do its job.
A well-maintained oil furnace will also cost less to run, saving you in utility costs throughout the year. Since a regularly serviced furnace also lasts longer, homeowners will receive a higher return on investment. Replacing furnaces is costly, so you want to ensure you’re getting the longest possible lifespan.
It’s also easier for you to remember if servicing is done on a regular schedule.
If you decide to take care of the annual furnace servicing yourself, the task quickly becomes incorporated into your home maintenance schedule. If choosing to hire a professional (which is highly recommended), you can schedule the appointment months in advance.
What Should I Do If My Furnace Stops Working?
Many homeowners don’t realize anything is wrong with their furnace until it stops working. Then, full panic ensues.
The good news is regular maintenance means a broken furnace emergency is significantly less likely to happen. The bad news is there’s always a small risk of this occurring, no matter how well taken care of your oil furnace is.
When to call a furnace maintenance professional
If the furnace stops working, you’ll want to call a professional to look at the problem. A furnace maintenance specialist can run diagnostics to determine the problem. They’ll let you know whether the issue can be repaired or whether the oil furnace will need replacement.
If the problem can be repaired, the technician can likely fix the issue during the diagnostic call. If you need your oil furnace replaced, it can’t usually be done the same day. A furnace expert can help you with finding a new unit and installing it, as well as disposing of the old one.
How Can I Choose a Reliable Oil Furnace Service Company?
When it comes to an essential part of your home like your oil furnace, you don’t want just anyone working on it. You want to choose a reliable oil furnace service company that can be trusted and counted on.
Check online reviews & ratings for information
One of the easiest ways to do this is by checking online reviews and ratings for companies in your area. A company with mostly positive reviews is always a better choice than one with primarily negative reviews.
Once you have a few local companies with positive reviews, double-check each one meets proper licensing requirements in your area. The final step should be a price comparison of any short-listed oil furnace service companies.
Do You Have More Questions About Your Home’s Oil Furnace or How to Care for It?
Many homeowners fail to think about their oil furnace until it’s no longer working correctly. But maintaining a regular servicing schedule provides numerous benefits, including cost savings.
Do you have more questions about your home’s oil furnace?
Contact us today. One of our associates would be happy to answer any questions you still have.
