You might have heard the advice to call an HVAC company for furnace maintenance before the winter begins. You are supposed to do this every year, even if you haven't been having problems with your heating system. However, if your heating system seems to be working like it's supposed to, if you've been really busy, or if you're short on funds, you could be thinking about skipping making this call this year. No matter how tempting it might be to skip out on calling for furnace maintenance, however, you should know that you might find yourself dealing with any or all of these problems this winter if you don't have the maintenance done.

Much Higher Heating Costs

If you're thinking about skipping HVAC maintenance because of the cost, then you should think about how much you might have to spend on household heating bills. The truth is that properly maintained furnaces typically operate much more efficiently. Whether your furnace is operated off of electricity, heating oil, or gas, you can expect your costs to be much higher if your furnace isn't well-maintained. Plus, there is a real environmental impact of using all of this additional fuel or electricity throughout the winter.

Less-Than-Ideal Air Quality

You probably expect to be comfortable when you're in your home, and this applies to more than just the temperature inside. For example, you should not have to worry about breathing dusty air; instead, you should be able to enjoy good indoor air quality. If your furnace is not well-maintained, then you do have to worry about dust, debris, and allergens being blown around your home. When you have regular maintenance, however, one thing a professional will do is clean out your entire unit. If necessary, they will help with changing out your air filters and ducts. This can help you enjoy much better indoor air quality all winter long.

Your Unit Might Break Down

Of course, there is always the chance that your heating unit could break down during the winter. This is true even if your unit is kept properly maintained. However, you can greatly reduce the chances of your furnace breaking down this winter if you make sure that you have it evaluated at the beginning of the season. Additionally, if something does go wrong, and if your warranty is valid, then it shouldn't be a problem to have the repairs covered at little or no cost to you.