System guide

Furnace / central heat maintenance

What a furnace / central heat actually needs, how often, what it costs to skip, and whether to DIY or call a pro. The schedule shifts with your region - see your city below for the local version.

Test smoke & CO alarms

This month

Batteries fade silently. Press the button on each, swap any that chirp.

You can do this · 2 min Keep waiting: life safety

Replace the furnace filter

~3 weeks

A clogged filter makes the system work harder and burn money - and strains the blower motor.

You can do this · 5 min, ~$15

Winterize outdoor faucets

Before first frost

A pipe that bursts behind a wall is the priciest preventable disaster a home has.

You can do this · 10 min Keep waiting: burst-pipe flooding

Get the furnace tuned up

This fall

A fall tune-up catches a cracked heat exchanger before you're relying on it in January.

HVAC tech · ~$100 Keep waiting: mid-winter breakdown

Look over the roof

This fall

A few lifted or missing shingles now is a $300 fix; the leak they cause is a $5,000 one.

Roofer · ~$0–200 Keep waiting: interior leak damage

Reseal tub & window caulk

This year

Failed caulk lets water behind tile and trim, where rot and mold start out of sight.

You can do this · an hour Keep waiting: hidden water damage

Vacuum the fridge coils

This year

Dust-caked coils make the compressor run hot and die years early.

You can do this · 15 min

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Furnace / central heat maintenance by city

Hartford, CTCold winter region Phoenix, AZHot / arid region Pittsburgh, PACold winter region Rochester, NYCold winter region