Fall is furnace checkup time

Homeowners should expect to pay between $70 and $90 for an inspection.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
To save you from seeing your breath billow inside your home this winter, now is the time to get your furnace inspected and serviced.
There are those who wait until snow is on the ground before they think about their heating systems. By then, they have to suffer behind other cold callers.
Dirt and neglect are the top causes of furnace failure, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, so each home needs an annual checkup.
"It ensures the performance is what it should be to get through the season before you need to use it," says Chandler von Schrader, program analyst for the EPA's Energy Star home improvement team in Washington, D.C.
That means hiring the right heating and cooling contractor. Plan to spend $90 for each inspection.
Contractors also offer maintenance agreements that include heating and cooling checkups, which typically lower the price to $70 for each inspection.
Be wary of companies that offer services for $50 or lower because they might be cutting corners, energy experts say.
Look for companies that offer a multiple-part inspection. For example, Neal Harris Heating, Air Conditioning & amp; Plumbing in Kansas City has a 16-point checkup, which includes examining electrical wiring, cleaning the system and looking for cracked parts that leak deadly carbon monoxide.
"We find those all the time," says Ryan Parshall, spokesman for Neal Harris. "Contractors are in the business of saving lives in addition to making homes comfortable."
What you can do
Residents also can keep their furnaces working properly by doing their own routine maintenance, von Schrader says. Here's what to do:
UChange air filters monthly. A clogged filter hurts the blower motor, which starves the system of air. Energy Star experts recommend filters with a Minimal Efficiency Report Value rating of 6 or above.
UBuy a programmable thermostat. They can save about $100 a year on heating and cooling bills, and wear and tear on the furnace. They cost between $50 and $120.
UTighten the duct system. Ducts are inherently leaky, but those deficient ducts can reduce a system's efficiency by 20 percent and cause uneven heating. Look for dirt streaks on ductwork. Where you see them, air is slipping out. Seal duct leaks with duct mastic or metal-backed tape, but not duct tape -- it's not strong enough on its own.
USeal cracks. Caulk or weather strip gaps in your home. The attic and basement are where most are found. You also may want to add insulation.
If you need a new furnace, call a contractor.
Replacement time
It might be time to replace your system if it's 15 years or older or hasn't been properly maintained. Sinking $500 into an 18-year-old furnace is like putting a new transmission in a beater car.
A new standard 80 percent-efficient furnace costs $2,000 to $3,000. Add between $1,500 and $2,000 for a 90 percent-efficient, Energy Star-qualified system. The higher-performing system reduces heating bills between 30 percent and 40 percent each year.
One-fourth of the homes that contractors see have undersized or oversized furnaces, Parshall says.
Contractors gauge heat loads before replacing furnaces. Having an undersized furnace won't get the job done. And having an oversized one will cost more, unevenly heat a home and cause wear and tear on the system.