Sure, we’re not dealing with blizzards or freezing pipes here in the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys. But when those LA winter nights dip into the 40s and 50s, a heating system that isn’t up to the task can make your home surprisingly uncomfortable. And let’s be honest, when you’re used to sunshine and mild weather most of the year, even a “mild” winter can feel pretty rough indoors if your furnace decides to quit on you.
Why LA homeowners get caught off guard
Here’s what happens every year: the weather stays beautiful through October and into November. Maybe we get a few cool mornings, but nothing that really makes you think about your heating system. Then December rolls around, temperatures drop for real, and suddenly everyone remembers they have a heater and hopes it still works.
The problem is, your furnace has been sitting idle since last winter. Dust has settled in the system. Parts have been sitting still for months. And if there were any small issues developing last season, they’ve had plenty of time to get worse. When you flip that switch for the first time in months and nothing happens, or it makes a weird noise, or it just doesn’t seem to heat like it used to, that’s when the reality hits. And that’s also when HVAC companies get slammed with service calls.
The real cost of skipping maintenance
A lot of homeowners figure that if their heater worked fine last year, it’ll work fine this year. And sometimes that’s true. But heating systems are a lot like cars in that they need regular attention to keep running their best. The difference is, most people remember to get their oil changed, but they forget about their furnace until it stops working.
Here’s the thing though: your heating and cooling system is probably the single most expensive appliance in your home. A quality system that’s properly maintained can last 15 years or longer. But we’ve seen systems fail at just 8 years old because they never got the care they needed. That’s a pretty expensive mistake when you consider what a full system replacement costs.
Regular maintenance isn’t just about preventing breakdowns, although that’s definitely part of it. It’s also about efficiency. A furnace that’s running with dirty burners, worn parts, or other issues has to work harder to heat your home. That means higher energy bills all winter long. A well-maintained system heats your home more efficiently, which keeps your utility costs down and extends the life of your equipment.
What actually happens during a fall tune-up
When we come out for a fall tune-up, we’re doing way more than just flipping your heater on to see if it works. We’re going through your entire system top to bottom to catch any issues before they become problems.
We start with safety checks, because that’s priority number one. We check for gas leaks at the furnace and test for carbon monoxide. We inspect your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they’re functioning properly. These aren’t the sexy parts of heating maintenance, but they’re absolutely critical for keeping your family safe.
Then we get into the mechanical side of things. We clean out the burners, inspect the combustion process, and make sure everything is firing the way it should. We check the blower motor operation and make sure the blower wheel is properly aligned and in good shape. We inspect all the capacitors, which are the parts that help your system start up and keep running. We look over all the mechanical and electrical components, tighten any connections that might have loosened over time, and for high-efficiency furnaces, we clean and clear the condensation trap and line.
We also take a look at your duct system to make sure you’re not losing heat somewhere you shouldn’t be. And we replace your air filters, which is one of the simplest but most important things you can do for your system.
All of this happens before the cold weather hits, which means if we find something that needs attention, you’ve got time to address it without freezing in your house while waiting for heating repairs or a new furnace installation.
Making maintenance easy with a plan
We get it, remembering to schedule heating maintenance every fall and AC maintenance every spring is just one more thing to keep track of. That’s why we created The Mighty Maintenance Plan. It’s basically a way to make sure your system gets the care it needs without you having to remember to call us every season.
For a low monthly fee, you get two maintenance visits a year – one in spring for your AC and one in fall for your heater. But that’s just the start. You also get scheduling reminders so you don’t have to keep track, priority scheduling that moves you to the top of the list when you need service, and discounts on service calls if you ever do experience a breakdown.
We offer three levels – Bronze, Silver, and Gold – depending on what makes sense for your situation. Bronze members get both tune-ups, 10% discounts on all parts, reduced service call fees, priority scheduling, and all standard filters included. Silver adds zero-dollar service calls, seasonal cleaning of your outside condenser, annual deep-cleaning of components, and Saturday appointments. Gold takes it to the next level with unlimited zero-dollar service calls, front-of-the-line emergency service, evaporator coil cleaning, and maintenance expense protection.
The idea is simple: preventative care costs way less than emergency repairs, and it helps your system last longer and run more efficiently. Plus, as a plan member, you’re never stuck at the bottom of a long list of service calls when something goes wrong.
Don’t wait for the cold snap
MightyServ proudly delivers top-notch services to the entire San Fernando, Conejo Valleys and the Westside, and we’ve been doing this for over 60 years. Our NATE-certified technicians know LA heating systems inside and out, and we’re here to make sure yours is ready for whatever winter throws our way.
Ready to get your heating system checked out before the cold weather really hits? Schedule service online or give us a call at (818) 348-4768. We’ll make sure your home stays warm and comfortable all season long.
