The cost of maintaining your furnace varies but is typically around $59-$140 for New Jersey residents.
The cost of your furnace maintenance varies depending on:
- The company or contractor you hire
- Whether or not you have a maintenance agreement
Below, we’ll look at both of these cost factors in more detail, so you can get a better idea of how much it will cost to maintain your furnace. But first, let’s look at why it’s important to invest in furnace maintenance in the first place.
Why you should invest in annual furnace maintenance
Furnace maintenance is the best way to:
- Reduce monthly energy bills
- Extend the life of your furnace
- Prevent costly repairs or breakdowns
During a maintenance visit, a technician will take the time to carefully assess, clean and tune many different parts of your furnace to ensure that your system is working efficiently and safely.
If your furnace is working efficiently, you’ll likely spend less on energy bills. You’re also less likely to encounter costly repairs down the road.
Now that you know why you should invest in annual maintenance, let’s look at the factors that will affect the cost of the maintenance option you choose.
Cost factor #1: The company or contractor you hire
There are two ways the company or contractor you hire will impact the cost of your maintenance visit:
1. The quality/experience of the contractor- The more experienced a contractor or company is, the more expensive a maintenance visit usually is. This is because a more experienced contractor will typically do a better/more thorough job, and charge more for the higher level of expertise you’re getting.
To find a quality contractor, our suggestion would be to look for someone who:
- Is licensed and insured
- Has at least 10 years of experience in your area
- Has great reviews on sites like Google and Facebook
- Can provide you with upfront pricing and a maintenance checklist (more on that next)
2. Length of the maintenance checklist- Energy Star has developed a list of basic tasks a contractor should perform during annual furnace maintenance. If a contractor or company only does the things listed below, they will probably charge less than a company that provides a more extensive list of maintenance tasks.
According to Energy Star, the minimum tasks a tech should perform during a maintenance visit include:
- Checking the furnace’s thermostat settings
- Tightening electrical connections
- Lubricating moving parts
- Inspecting the condensate drain
- Checking the furnace control
- Checking any gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger
However, as we mentioned, this list is the bare minimum amount of tasks a tech should complete. For example, at Air Experts, we complete all of the above tasks and:
- Check carbon monoxide emission levels
- Inspect the burner ignition system flame sensor and assembly
- Inspect flue and venting for obstructions and leaks
- Check the electrical circuit to furnace
- Test all electrical/safety circuits/controls for proper operation
- Inspect entire furnace for loose or worn parts and abnormal vibrations
- Test and adjust the unit for peak operating efficiency
- Check high limit control (adjust as needed)
Our suggestion would be to find a company or contractor with at least 10 years of experience and an extensive maintenance checklist. This way you know that the maintenance service you’re paying for will be worth the cost.
Cost factor #2: Whether or not you have a maintenance agreement
The other main factor that will determine the cost of your maintenance visit is whether or not you have an annual maintenance agreement.
Most HVAC companies offer both a one-time tune-up and an annual maintenance agreement. Having a maintenance agreement is usually less expensive than purchasing a one-off tune-up.
Annual maintenance Agreements also typically come with other perks, like discounts on repairs, after-hours emergency service, extended warranties or guarantees, etc.
For example, if you’re part of our annual maintenance agreement, we offer:
- 20% off repairs
- Lifetime warranties on any parts installed
- 24- hour emergency service
- Priority service
Need quality furnace maintenance? Hire the best techs in NJ: Air Experts
If you need furnace maintenance but aren’t sure where to find a quality contractor, reach out to us. We’ve been helping NJ homeowners with their furnaces for the last 26+ years, so when you hire us you can be 100% confident that your furnace is maintained properly for the heating system.