Welcome to Ready & Able, formerly known as David LeRoy Plumbing! Although our name and brand have changed, we are still here to serve you and all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality needs!
In Etters, PA, where wintertime lows can dip into the 20s and sometimes even lower during cold snaps, a reliable heating system is essential for both comfort and safety. Regular maintenance plays an important role in keeping your furnace running efficiently and helping to extend its lifespan. By preparing the appliance in the fall, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your system is ready for winter. The following tips can help you get started.
Scheduling a professional tune-up appointment is one of the best ways to keep your furnace in optimal condition. We recommend booking the service annually, ideally in the fall, to prepare your system for the upcoming cold weather.
During the appointment, our technicians perform standard tasks such as inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks, checking electrical wiring, cleaning burners and flame sensors, testing safety controls, and confirming airflow and combustion. This preventive maintenance ensures the furnace is operating safely and efficiently throughout the heating season.
You should schedule your appointment before heavy furnace use begins. Running the furnace briefly in early fall as a test can help identify unusual smells, noises, or short-cycling before your tune-up.
Switch out your filter regularly to maintain airflow and efficiency. Filter replacement frequency depends on the type:
Homes with pets, smokers, or residents with allergies may benefit from more frequent changes. Clean filters help reduce dust, support better airflow, and keep your system from overworking.
If you’re changing filters around the time of your tune-up, consider leaving the old filter in place so your technician can assess how much debris was captured, then replace it afterward.
Walk through your home and make sure vents and registers are unobstructed. Keep at least 18–24 inches of clearance around each one.
Clear vents allow heated air to flow freely throughout your home, ensuring consistent comfort. Blocking too many vents can raise system pressure and even cause your furnace to overheat. Avoid closing more than 10–20% of your registers at any time.
Your furnace should have the manufacturer’s recommended clearance (often several feet) on all sides. This space prevents overheating and keeps the area safe from fire hazards.
Older atmospheric-combustion furnaces that draw air from the room especially need unobstructed airflow to burn fuel properly. Blocking the air supply reduces efficiency, raises safety risks, and can shorten the system’s lifespan.
Keeping the area clean and free of dust, boxes, and chemicals also improves air quality and ensures technicians have safe access during service.
High-efficiency condensing furnaces (90%+ AFUE) vent exhaust gases through PVC pipes to the outdoors, while mid-efficiency furnaces (around 80% AFUE) typically use metal flue venting.
Check that the exterior termination points of your furnace vent system are free of blockages like leaves, snow, or ice. For condensing furnaces, inspect both the intake and exhaust PVC pipes. Also ensure the condensate drain and trap are clear so moisture can flow out properly. Never stick your hand or objects inside the pipes—just ensure the openings are unobstructed.
An adult, preferably the homeowner, should be home during the furnace tune-up. This allows our team to access necessary areas, discuss the current state of your system, and go over any recommended repairs or upgrades.
A tune-up appointment is the perfect opportunity to learn how to care for your heating system. We’ll cover important information, such as how often to change your filters and when to call us for professional repairs.
You can also ask about upgrades. For example, replacing an older furnace with a high-efficiency model reduces fuel use and energy costs. For better indoor air quality, your technician may suggest pairing the furnace with upgraded filtration, humidity control, or ventilation systems.
Consider making a list of the most important questions you want answered, so you leave the appointment with confidence about maintaining your furnace through the season.
Furnaces typically last 15 to 20 years depending on installation quality and maintenance. As they age, they usually require more frequent repairs. Don’t wait until the last minute to book repairs or replacements—schedule them early so our team has time to complete the work before the coldest weather arrives. You’ll also have more flexibility in choosing appointment times. Being without proper heating during a Pennsylvania winter can put your safety and comfort at risk.
Setting reminders helps you stay on top of furnace care. Add them to your calendar so you don’t forget key tasks:
Regular self-checks paired with professional maintenance give you the best chance at preventing mid-winter breakdowns.
Since professional furnace tune-ups are annual, it’s easy to forget to schedule one. Put a reminder in your calendar now for next fall, and also set one in the spring to schedule your cooling system maintenance before summer.
Don’t wait until the cold weather arrives to schedule your tune-up. Call Ready & Able Plumbing, Heating & Air to schedule your furnace service in Etters today.
Welcome to Ready & Able, formerly known as David LeRoy Plumbing! Although our name and brand have changed, we are still here to serve you and all of your plumbing, heating, cooling, and air quality needs!