furnace tune up cost

Average Cost of Gas Furnace Annual Maintenance

Most homeowners pay around $80 to have the gas furnace in their home serviced each year. Of course, the price can differ if you have a service agreement with the HVAC company, or if you used a coupon that are widely offered to gain first time services.

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Overview of Gas Furnace Maintenance

During a furnace tune up, the unit will be cleaned and then a checklist of maintenance items should be performed. These include safety checks of the gas line and valve, heat exchanger and exhaust system. If you have a heat pump system with a gas furnace, the cost will not differ much at all. They are separate units designed to operate together in a dual fuel system.

Performance tests indicate whether adjustments or repairs should be made to ensure the furnace is running dependably and at peak efficiency. on blower voltage and amp draw, gas pressure and the

Note: Failure to maintain your furnace might void the warranty.

Maytag’s warranty is just one of many with similar language. It states, “All equipment requires annual maintenance performed by your servicing dealer or an authorized service technician…you or your servicing dealer may be required to submit proof of annual maintenance.”

That’s one of many examples found in HVAC equipment warranties. Have your furnace maintained as outlined in the instructions provided with the unit or in the owner’s manual to avoid denial of warranty claims.

Furnace Cleaning and Tune-up Cost Factors

The number of maintenance services performed usually determines cost. But there might be another factor – the servicing company’s strategy.

In our experience, low-cost annual maintenance offers mean one of two things. Either your furnace is going to get a cursory inspection and cleaning, which is a waste of money. Or, the company intends to find things wrong with your furnace in order to sell you costly repairs. If a technician tells you your heat exchanger is cracked and the furnace must be replaced, get a second estimate before proceeding unless you know and trust the HVAC company and/or they have been maintaining your heating and air system for many years. Look further through our site to review new gas furnace costs.

Choose a heating company with a good reputation for fair dealing with its customers. Ask the company for a checklist of services provided during maintenance.

• Maintenance Services Provided: The more maintenance, diagnostic testing and adjustments are made, the higher the cost typically is. Some companies have two tiers of “General” and “Advanced” maintenance and cleaning. A maintenance list will include some or all of these tasks: checking for cracks in the heat exchanger, testing for carbon monoxide and gas leaks, inspect vent for leaks, cleaning, testing voltage and amp draw of the blower, balancing and lubricating the blower, measure and adjust gas pressure, test ignitor for electric resistance and test/calibrate the thermostat. Here are more tips from Gas Furnace Guide for what to expect from annual furnace maintenance.
• Time of Year: Heating companies sometimes offer discounts during slow periods of the year. Those periods vary for different parts of the country.
• Number of Units Serviced: Some companies offer a discount for maintenance on a second furnace or an AC because their travel time and cost is spread over more units.
• Complexity of the Furnace: Some heating companies charge a little extra to test and tune furnaces with modulating gas valves and communicating technology.
• Access to the Furnace: The cleaning and tune-up of a furnace in an attic or crawlspace might cost 10% to 20% more than one that is easy to access and work on.
• Competition in Your Area: Where heating and air conditioning companies are competing for your business, prices can be lower. Just be sure you’re comparing estimates offering the same set of maintenance points.
• Having a Service Plan: HVAC contractors sell service agreements as a means of “locking in” customers for maintenance, repairs and replacements. Costing $150 to $500 per year based on services offer, they provide free or discounted annual maintenance, and discounts on service calls, repairs and replacements. They also give you priority position when you call for repairs.
• Time Since Last Maintenance: Poorly maintained furnaces take longer to clean and tune. If there isn’t a set price for the service, then cost will go up as time increases. It’s also more likely that minor repairs will be suggested such as replacing the igniter, flame sensor or thermocouple.

Permits and Inspection Costs

A permit is not required, and there should not be additional labor costs unless a repair issue is discovered and the repair is completed.

Tune Up or Maintenance Completion Time

• 1 to 2 hours per unit | Time needed for proper annual maintenance. The exact amount of time is determined by how dirty the furnace is, it’s age, and how many items are on the maintenance checklist.

DIY or Hire a Pro

Cleaning a furnace using a shop vacuum is easy if you re skilled handyman with the right tools. While you might be able to find helpful tutorials online, we recommend hiring a local heating and cooling company to maintain your furnace. There are two main reasons.

The first is that failing to have maintenance done per the instructions that came with your furnace might void the warranty.

Secondly, most homeowners don’t have the measurement and diagnostic tools used during routine furnace maintenance to ensure the furnace is safe and running as efficiently and dependably as it should.