Once a year, in fall, before the first hard freeze. September and October are the right window — early enough to get the appointment time you want, and early enough that any parts needed arrive before you actually need heat.

Why Annual Is the Standard

The strongest reason is safety rather than efficiency. A furnace burns gas inside your house, and the heat exchanger is the only thing separating combustion gases from the air you breathe. A crack in it is a carbon monoxide hazard, and it is invisible without an inspection. That single check justifies the visit even in a year when nothing else needs attention.

What the Visit Covers

  • Heat exchanger inspection for cracks and corrosion
  • Ignitor resistance and flame sensor microamp testing — the two most common no-heat failures
  • Gas pressure verification and combustion analysis with carbon monoxide testing
  • Every limit and safety switch
  • Blower wheel cleaning and motor amp draw
  • Venting and combustion air inspection
  • Filter service and thermostat calibration

When to Consider Twice a Year

Systems past fifteen years, homes with heavy dust exposure, properties on dirt roads, and light commercial equipment running longer hours. If you have a heat pump or hybrid fuel system, twice a year is standard regardless — that equipment runs in both seasons.

Book Before the Rush

The first hard freeze produces a surge of no-heat calls across the metro, and every contractor books solid within days. Scheduling in early fall means choosing your appointment rather than waiting for one. It also means a marginal ignitor gets replaced on a mild October afternoon instead of failing at 11 p.m. in January.

Between Visits

Change filters every one to three months. Restricted airflow overheats the heat exchanger and trips the high-limit switch repeatedly, which is genuinely hard on the furnace. Keep the area around the unit clear, and make sure combustion air openings are not blocked by storage.

Our Care Club bundles fall furnace maintenance with spring AC service, adds member pricing on repairs, and provides priority dispatch during peak weeks.

Contact B. Carlson in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.