Why Is Heating Maintenance A Job for the Pros?

Written on: November 16, 2020

Don’t try this at home!

There are lots of ways you can save money. You can:

• Make your morning coffee instead of buying it
• Brown-bag your lunch instead of doing takeout
• Program your thermostat for maximum energy efficiency
• Buy non-perishables like toilet paper in bulk

But there one thing you should not do to save money: Attempt to perform a maintenance tune-up of your home’s heating system on your own. We have three reasons why this is not a good thing to do.

It’s Not Safe

Home heating systems have advanced technologically over the years. That makes them more efficient and durable. But it also makes them more complex. And they burn combustible fuels like propane. If you make a mistake, those fuels could create a carbon monoxide buildup in your home.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is odorless, colorless, and potentially deadly. Each year, about 400 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning, and about 50,000 end up in the emergency room.

If there is a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide in the blood, the oxygen in your red blood cells is replaced by carbon monoxide. As it continues to build up, your brain, heart and lungs are deprived of the oxygen they need to function. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause serious injury or death to you, your family and your pets.

You Don’t Know What You’re Doing

There is no amount of online tutorial videos that will give you the knowledge and skill needed to properly perform maintenance on your heating system.

You may think you’re saving a few bucks by doing DIY maintenance, but it could cost you big if you mess it up, much more than the cost of a tune-up.

The national average cost for repairing a furnace is $295, with boilers averaging $379. Replacement average costs are $4,427 for a furnace and $5,851 for a boiler. As we said, these are national averages. The costs for you could be much higher.

You Risk Voiding Your Heating System’s Warranty

Check the warranty for your home’s heating system. It likely has a requirement that there be documentation of regular, professional maintenance to keep the warranty valid.

By trying to perform a tune-up yourself, you could be violating the warranty, which can cost you big in the long run if you ever need to use that warranty and find out it’s no longer in effect.

You depend on your home’s heating system to keep your Oklahoma home warm, safe, and comfortable in the winter. Trust the pros to take care of it.

Contact Pitmon for top quality propane appliances for your home!