StockBIZ: Let it snow outside but keep it warm inside with regular furnace maintenance

by Mary Jo David

Walking in a winter wonderland…let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…I’ve got my love to keep me warm.

The songs of the season paint lovely—even romantic—pictures of the weather this time of year, but what happens when your furnace goes out and that winter wonderland is suddenly finding its way indoors as the temperature in your home starts to drop?

Putting your furnace repair person on speed-dial is one way to address heating problems in the midst of winter. But according to local professionals, homeowners can perform some simple maintenance steps to ensure a problem-free and warm winter, without incurring large repair bills. These steps include replacing your furnace filter regularly, changing the batteries in your thermostat, checking your fuel level if you have propane or oil, and getting annual maintenance checks or cleanings.

“Keep your filter clean,” emphasized Mike Boyd of Boyd Heating and Cooling of Stockbridge. “The newer furnaces burn a lot cleaner, so if you keep your filter clean you shouldn’t have a problem.”

“There’s a wide variation in air filters,” explained Scott Boyce of Boyce Plumbing and Heating in Gregory. “Some should be changed monthly, some every three months, and some once a year. If you have pets, you may need to be even more diligent about changing filters more frequently.”

Some HVAC professionals recommend annual, proactive furnace maintenance by a professional. “If people had their units checked once a year, they could save themselves lots of headaches,” said Mike Bramlett of Bramlett Hardware and Heating Company in Gregory.

“On a regular maintenance visit we can inspect connections, clean the burners, replace worn parts, check out your condensate drain and make sure your system is operating efficiently,” said Boyce.

Bramlett drove the maintenance point home when he noted, “Proactive maintenance visits help you to avoid calling for a reactive visit, like finding yourself without heat on Christmas Eve.”

Boyce, Boyd, and Bramlett are all veterans when it comes to servicing HVAC systems. Boyce began in the trade in 1984 when his dad was running the business; he took over running the business in 1996.  Boyd has been in the HVAC business in the Stockbridge area for 24 years. As for Bramlett, he has been doing HVAC work for 43 years and moved to his current location when he bought the hardware store in Gregory in 2006.

Considering their years of experience, each knows firsthand that customers have great intentions but don’t always follow the advice they are given.

“I was on three calls this past weekend where the problem was batteries that needed replacing,” said Bramlett.

“Remember to check your fuel levels if you can. Just yesterday I was on a call where the homeowner was out of propane,” Boyd said.

“Routinely changing air filters is something many homeowners ignore, yet this has the potential to save them money on their energy bills and repairs,” said Boyce. “That and recognizing when a furnace needs to be replaced. After about a 20-year lifespan, it gets more costly to repair and parts are harder to find. The worst is not being able to get a part in the dead of winter for someone whose furnace has quit.”

HVAC professionals know what it’s like to be called out for weekend repairs and are accustomed to long days and workweeks. Yet, they consider HVAC a great opportunity for young people considering a career in the trades.

“Yes, I’d recommend the work. People need heating and cooling services regardless of a good or bad economy. But unfortunately, the trade doesn’t have a lot of apprentices coming up, so good help is hard to find,” Bramlett said.

“If someone wants good, steady work, this is it,” Boyce noted. “The problem I see is not finding enough young people who want to work and learn the trade. It seems they’re more drawn to computer work.”

Speaking of which, all three HVAC pros have plenty of experience working with today’s programmable “smart” thermostats—the type of thermostat you can program and remotely control from your mobile phone or other internet-connected devices.

Furnaces are only half of the HVAC equation, although in a state with colder temperatures like Michigan, furnaces do get the lion’s share of attention. While it’s not something you may be thinking about in December and January, before you know it, it will be spring and time for air conditioning.

So, mixed in with wishes for a Happy New Year and a warm winter is this gentle reminder: Don’t forget to mark your calendar for spring A/C maintenance!

Contact information:

Boyce Plumbing and Heating, Inc., Gregory. Ph: 734-498-3308.

Boyd Heating and Cooling, Stockbridge. Ph: 517-851-7557/Cell: 517-812-7127. Web: boydhc.com

Bramlett Hardware and Heating Company, Gregory and Howell. Ph: 517-546-8245. Web: www.bramletthvac.com

Changing your furnace filter on a regular schedule can save you money on energy bills and repair costs. Photo Credit: Arthaey Angosii (Creative Commons license: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.)