Question 1

When should I schedule a furnace tune-up?

Accepted Answer

Fall — September or October — before the heating season begins. Early scheduling avoids the rush and ensures you're not waiting for service when the first cold night arrives.

Question 2

Is checking the heat exchanger really necessary?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it's the most important safety check in any furnace service. A cracked heat exchanger can allow carbon monoxide to enter your living space. We check this on every furnace visit.

Question 3

How long does a furnace tune-up take?

Accepted Answer

Our comprehensive furnace tune-up takes approximately 60–90 minutes for a typical residential gas furnace.

Question 4

Can a clogged filter cause my furnace to blow cold air?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. A severely clogged filter restricts airflow across the heat exchanger, causing it to overheat and trip the high-limit safety switch. When that happens, the burners shut off but the blower keeps running, pushing unheated air through your vents. Replacing the filter every 1–3 months is the single easiest thing you can do to prevent furnace problems.

Question 5

How often should a furnace flame sensor be cleaned?

Accepted Answer

We clean the flame sensor during every annual tune-up — once a year is sufficient for most homes. If your furnace starts the pattern of lighting then shutting off within 5–10 seconds between tune-ups, the flame sensor likely needs cleaning sooner. It takes about 10 minutes with fine emery cloth or steel wool and is included in our standard maintenance visit.

Question 6

Can a furnace leak carbon monoxide?

Accepted Answer

Yes — any gas furnace with a cracked or corroded heat exchanger can leak carbon monoxide into your home. This is why every home with a gas furnace should have CO detectors on every level and outside sleeping areas. Annual furnace maintenance includes a heat exchanger inspection and combustion analysis to catch cracks before they become dangerous. It's the most important reason to keep up with yearly tune-ups.

Question 7

How often should I change my furnace filter?

Accepted Answer

For standard 1-inch filters, change them every 30–90 days depending on whether you have pets, allergies, or a dusty home. Four-inch media filters last 6–12 months. A dirty filter is the number one cause of furnace problems we see — it restricts airflow, causes overheating, increases energy bills, and accelerates wear on the blower motor. When in doubt, pull it out and hold it up to light — if you can't see through it, replace it.

Question 8

What MERV rating filter should I use in my furnace?

Accepted Answer

For most residential furnaces, a MERV 8–11 filter is the sweet spot — it captures dust, pollen, and pet dander without restricting airflow. MERV 13 and above filters are great for air quality but can strain older furnaces that weren't designed for that much resistance. Never use a MERV 13+ filter without confirming your system can handle it — restricted airflow from an overly aggressive filter causes more problems than it solves.

Question 9

How often should a furnace be serviced?

Accepted Answer

Every furnace should be professionally serviced once a year, ideally in the fall before heating season starts. Annual maintenance includes cleaning the burners and flame sensor, inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks, checking gas pressure and combustion efficiency, testing safety controls, lubricating the blower motor, and verifying thermostat calibration. Homes that skip annual maintenance see 2–3 times more emergency breakdowns.

Question 10

What does a furnace tune-up include?

Accepted Answer

Our furnace tune-up includes a 20+ point inspection: cleaning and adjusting burners, testing ignition and safety controls, cleaning the flame sensor, inspecting the heat exchanger with a mirror and camera, checking gas pressure with a manometer, measuring temperature rise, testing CO levels, inspecting the flue and venting, lubricating moving parts, checking the blower and belt, and testing thermostat operation. It takes about 60–90 minutes.

Question 11

When should I schedule fall furnace maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Schedule your fall furnace tune-up in September or early October, before the first cold snap hits Asheville. Waiting until November means you're competing with every homeowner whose furnace just failed on the first cold night. Early fall scheduling gives you priority, ensures any needed repairs are done before you actually need heat, and often comes with off-season pricing.

Question 12

How do I winterize my furnace?

Accepted Answer

Replace the air filter, clear any items stored within 3 feet of the furnace, check that all vents and returns throughout the house are open and unblocked, test the thermostat by setting it 5 degrees above room temperature and confirming the furnace starts and heats, and make sure your CO detectors have fresh batteries. Then schedule your professional tune-up — that covers the internal components you can't safely inspect yourself.

Question 13

How do I know if my furnace is leaking carbon monoxide?

Accepted Answer

You often can't tell without a CO detector — carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. Warning signs include yellow or flickering burner flames (should be steady blue), soot or scorch marks around the furnace, excessive condensation on windows, and family members experiencing headaches, dizziness, or nausea. Install CO detectors on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas, and have your furnace inspected annually.

Question 14

How can I prevent emergency furnace breakdowns?

Accepted Answer

Annual professional maintenance is the single best prevention — 80% of the emergency calls we get could have been caught during a routine tune-up. Beyond that, change your filter regularly, keep vents and returns clear, and don't ignore early warning signs like strange noises, weak airflow, or longer run times. A furnace rarely fails without giving you warning signs first.

Question 15

Should I run my furnace before winter to make sure it works?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — test your furnace in early October before you actually need it. Set the thermostat to heat, raise it above room temperature, and confirm the furnace starts, the burners ignite, and warm air comes from the vents. This gives you time to schedule a repair or tune-up before the heating season rush. Discovering a dead furnace on the first 25-degree night in December is a miserable experience we help people avoid every year.

Question 16

Do you offer furnace maintenance plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes — our annual maintenance plans include a fall furnace tune-up and spring AC tune-up, priority scheduling, discounted repair rates, and no overtime charges on emergency calls. Plan members also get a 15% discount on parts and labor for any needed repairs. It's the most cost-effective way to keep your system running efficiently and catch small problems before they become expensive emergency breakdowns.

Question 17

How often should I get an HVAC tune-up?

Accepted Answer

We recommend twice a year — once in spring to prep your AC for summer and once in fall to prep your heating system for winter. A system that gets regular maintenance runs more efficiently, breaks down less often, and lasts 5–7 years longer than a neglected one. Most manufacturer warranties also require annual professional maintenance to stay valid.

Question 18

What's included in an HVAC tune-up?

Accepted Answer

Our tune-ups include checking and tightening electrical connections, cleaning the condensate drain, checking refrigerant charge and pressures, inspecting the heat exchanger or coils, testing safety controls, lubricating moving parts, checking thermostat calibration, and measuring airflow and temperature differential. We also check your filter and let you know if your ductwork has any obvious issues.

Question 19

How often should I change my HVAC air filter?

Accepted Answer

Standard 1-inch filters should be changed every 30–90 days depending on your household — homes with pets, allergies, or heavy dust need monthly changes. If you have a 4-inch or 5-inch media filter, those typically last 6–12 months. A clogged filter is the number one cause of preventable HVAC breakdowns — it restricts airflow, causes the system to overheat or freeze, and runs up your energy bill.

Question 20

What should I do to prepare my furnace for winter?

Accepted Answer

Schedule a fall tune-up that includes a heat exchanger inspection, change your filter, test your carbon monoxide detectors, and make sure nothing is stored against or on top of the furnace. If you have a heat pump, clear any leaves or debris from the outdoor unit. We recommend getting your heating system checked by October in WNC — our schedule fills up fast once the first cold snap hits the mountains.

Question 21

What happens if I skip HVAC maintenance for a few years?

Accepted Answer

Skipping maintenance leads to a cascade of problems: the filter clogs, airflow drops, the coil gets dirty, the system works harder, components wear out faster, and efficiency plummets. We regularly see systems that could have lasted 18–20 years fail at 10–12 years because they were never serviced. The repair that finally prompts the call is often a compressor or heat exchanger failure — the two most expensive components in your system.

Question 22

Can my HVAC system cause carbon monoxide poisoning?

Accepted Answer

Gas furnaces and boilers can produce carbon monoxide if the heat exchanger is cracked, the flue is blocked, or combustion is incomplete due to improper gas pressure or a dirty burner. This is why annual furnace inspections are so critical — we check the heat exchanger for cracks and test combustion gases every time. Every home with gas appliances should have CO detectors on every level, and we strongly recommend replacing them every 5–7 years.

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