With fall鈥檚 arrival, you know the Okanagan鈥檚 first cold snap of the season won鈥檛 be far behind.
And that鈥檚 exactly why now is the time to have your furnace, heat pump and other mechanical systems serviced 鈥 before you turn them on and discover something has gone wrong.
鈥淐oming into fall, having just finished the warm summer season, people really aren鈥檛 thinking about their furnace, but having a professional come see if everything is working properly and safely is essential,鈥 explains David Howell, from the Okanagan鈥檚 .
鈥淚t offers that peace of mind 鈥 you definitely in the middle of Winter.鈥
That peace of mind also comes from knowing you鈥檙e working with a Fortis Trade Ally Network member 鈥 a business that not only meets stringent training requirements, but also the quality of service Fortis requires.
鈥淲e really are looking out for the homeowner,鈥 Howell says, noting that calling earlier will also help avoid the rush that will come in the next month or so.
Preventive care brings comfort 鈥 and savings
Servicing your heating system can also save you significant money in the long run, Howell notes.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like servicing your car 鈥 if you never change the oil, your car is not going to work as efficiently as it could and it definitely won鈥檛 last as long as it should,鈥 he says. 鈥淲e make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible.鈥
As part of the annual inspection and cleaning, your technician will notice if parts are becoming worn, before that affects larger 鈥 and more expensive 鈥 system components.
When it comes to replacing the furnace itself, Britech technicians are also looking at the system as a whole, including ductwork. Furnaces need to breathe, and original ductwork is often very restrictive, not enabling the furnace to move the air as it should. By changing just the ductwork around the furnace, this can often be remedied.
鈥淎s professional contractors, we鈥檙e looking at all those areas 鈥 we鈥檙e not just doing the minimum. Clients often tell us, 鈥榃ow 鈥 what a difference! It didn鈥檛 just change the furnace, it changed the whole feel of the home.鈥
Great rebate opportunities
If your system is past its prime, now is also a great time to think about upgrading, and take advantage of , such as up to $1,000 on a new, high-efficiency gas furnace 鈥 typically 20 per cent of the cost of a new furnace, so definitely worthwhile.
鈥淚f your furnace is 10 to 15 years old, it鈥檚 only about 70 per cent efficient. A new system will be around 97 per cent efficient, for a considerable difference on your winter heating bills,鈥 Howell says.
And for those with baseboard heating, an even larger rebate is available to upgrade to a ductless heat pump system.
Ready to learn more about getting your home鈥檚 heating system ready for winter? Visit and stay up-to-date on .