How often should you schedule your furnace tune-up?

This task protects people, not just the house. Do it on a schedule to make sure it gets done.

Staying on schedule matters beyond the repair bill: a consistent maintenance record is one of the factors in a home's Roots Home Health Score, and well-kept homes typically sell faster and closer to asking price.

How to do it

A yearly professional tune-up before heating season keeps the furnace running safely and efficiently. The technician's most important check is the heat exchanger, a crack in which can leak carbon monoxide.

1. Book an HVAC technician in early fall, before the first cold snap fills their schedule.
2. Have them inspect the heat exchanger, burners, and flue, and test the safety and limit switches.
3. Ask them to check gas pressure, airflow, and the blower, and to confirm the thermostat calls correctly.
4. Keep the report; it documents the heat exchanger's condition year over year.

Alternatives & optional extras

• Pair it with an AC tune-up in a maintenance plan; many companies discount the combined visit.
• A furnace over 15 years old with a cracked exchanger is usually a replace, not repair, decision.

Time: ~1.3 hours · Typical cost: $100–$200 for a tune-up

If you skip it

Skipping service risks a mid-winter breakdown and, more seriously, a cracked heat exchanger venting carbon monoxide into the home.

Other furnace / heating system maintenance

• Replace HVAC air filter — every 3 months

Related systems to keep on schedule

• Boiler / radiators — start with: schedule boiler service, once a year, ideally in September
• Mini-split / ductless AC — start with: clean mini-split filters, once a month
• Air conditioner — start with: schedule ac tune-up, once a year, ideally in April
• Tankless water heater — start with: descale tankless water heater, once a year