Maintenance Checklist: How to Get 15–20 Years Out of This Goodman Furnace
If you treat a Goodman 96% furnace like a toaster—flip it on, forget it, and hope for the best—you’re not going to see 15–20 years. You’ll see breakdowns, noisy blowers, rusted heat exchangers, and a replacement quote way earlier than you want.
I’m Hands-On Jake, and this is the maintenance checklist I’d hand to any homeowner who actually wants their Goodman to last: GM9S96, GMEC96, GMVC96, GRVT96, whatever 96% model you’ve got in that basement, closet, or attic.
We’ll break it down into:
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Monthly tasks (filters, vents, grilles)
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Seasonal tasks (blower, thermostat checks, safety basics)
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Annual tune-up checklist (what a pro should actually do)
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Heat exchanger inspection (how it’s really checked)
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Drain trap cleaning procedure
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Return grille & duct face cleaning
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Lubrication & electrical checks
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IAQ upgrades with MERV ratings explained
You’ll see very clearly what you can do yourself—and where a trained technician absolutely needs to take over.
1. Ground Rules: How Goodman Expects You to Treat This Furnace
Goodman’s own maintenance guidance is simple: routine maintenance by a licensed professional may extend the life of your gas furnace and prevent minor issues from becoming big ones. goodmanmfg.com
Paired with a hands-on homeowner doing simple checks, that professional tune-up is how you get to the 15–20-year mark.
If you want the factory-style maintenance mindset, skim something like
Goodman_Maintenance_Guide
and grab your exact model manual from
Now let’s get into the actual checklist.
2. Monthly Tasks (5–10 Minutes You Actually Need to Do)
These are the things you, the homeowner, should be doing regularly during heating season. They’re simple, safe, and they prevent 80% of “my furnace died at 2 am” calls.
2.1 Filter Check (Every 30 Days)
Your Goodman 96% furnace lives or dies by airflow. Dirty filters cause:
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Overheating and high-limit trips
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Cracked heat exchangers over time
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Shortened blower life
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Higher gas and electric usage
What to do:
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Turn the thermostat to OFF.
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Locate the filter (return grille or furnace cabinet).
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Slide it out and check:
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If it looks gray, fuzzy, or caked—replace it.
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If it’s only lightly dusty, you might stretch it to 60–90 days (depending on MERV rating and house conditions).
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Make sure the new filter’s airflow arrow points toward the furnace.
If you’ve got pets, smokers, or live in a dusty area, assume 30-day checks are mandatory.
2.2 Visual Vent Check (Intake & Exhaust)
Goodman 96% furnaces use PVC intake and exhaust. Once a month, take 60 seconds to:
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Step outside and look at the vent terminations.
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Make sure there’s no snow, leaves, lint, or nests blocking the opening.
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In cold climates, check for ice buildup around the hood.
If something is blocking the pipe, carefully clear it—no tools, no cutting, just obvious debris removal.
2.3 Listen & Look in the Furnace Area
Quick monthly sanity check:
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Any new weird noises? Grinding, rattling, metallic whine from the blower or inducer?
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Any water on the floor around the furnace?
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Any burnt or melted plastic smell?
If yes, that’s your sign to schedule a professional—not a reason to grab tools and start guessing.
2.4 Return Grille Quick Wipe
Every month (or at least every other), wipe dust from return grilles with:
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A microfiber cloth, or
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Vacuum brush attachment
Dust-caked returns restrict air just like dirty filters. Make this fast swipe part of your normal cleaning routine.
3. Seasonal Tasks (Fall Startup & Mid-Season Check)
Do these at least twice a year—once before heating season, and once mid-season.
A great general reference for homeowner tasks is this
HVAC Training Shop
which lines up closely with what I’m about to lay out.
3.1 Thermostat Check & Calibration Feel
Most modern stats don’t need old-school calibration, but they can still drift or be misconfigured.
Each season:
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Put a cheap digital thermometer near the thermostat.
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Let the system run a while.
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Compare the wall thermostat reading to the thermometer.
If it’s consistently off by 2–3°F, or your furnace overshoots/undershoots a lot, have a pro check thermostat settings and calibration during the annual visit.
3.2 Blower Compartment Inspection (No Tools)
You’re not pulling the blower out yourself—that’s a tech job—but you can:
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Kill power to the furnace using the switch.
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Remove the lower blower door.
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Use a flashlight to look for:
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Excessive dust on the blower wheel
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Loose insulation or debris
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Signs of water leakage or rust
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Light dust is normal. Thick fuzz cakes on the blower blades? That’s a hint your annual tune-up should include blower wheel cleaning.
3.3 Test Safety Devices You Control
These are simple, but important:
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector:
Hit the test button; replace batteries yearly. -
Smoke detectors:
Same deal—test button and battery swap as needed.
Any 96% gas furnace should be paired with working CO detection. Non-negotiable.
3.4 House Airflow & Vent Check
Walk the house and make sure:
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Most supply registers are open (closing many vents can over-pressurize ducts and stress the furnace).
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Furniture or rugs aren’t blocking vents.
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Return grilles aren’t hidden behind couches or bookcases.
4. Annual Tune-Up Checklist (What the Pro Should Actually Do)
Here’s where your HVAC tech earns their money. A good annual tune-up is less “spray some cleaner and leave” and more “systematic inspection and test.”
A typical pro checklist aligns with guides like
Annual_Furnace_Tuneup_Guide
Season Control
4.1 Combustion & Safety
A tech should:
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Inspect burners for rust or debris
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Check flame pattern and color
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Verify flame does not hit the heat exchanger walls directly
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Test flame sensor microamp reading
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Confirm rollout and high-limit switches function as designed
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Perform a combustion analysis where required (CO levels, draft, excess air)
This is gas-side work—not a DIY zone.
4.2 Electrical Checks & Tightening
Annual electrical tasks include:
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Inspecting the control board for burnt traces or discoloration
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Checking all low- and high-voltage connections for tightness
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Verifying ground and neutral integrity
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Measuring blower and inducer motor amperage vs nameplate
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Confirming proper polarity
Minor electrical issues ignored for years become board replacements later.
4.3 Blower & Inducer Maintenance
Tech should:
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Inspect blower wheel for dust buildup; remove and clean if needed
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Check blower motor bearings for noise/play
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Verify ECM (or PSC) motor amperage
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Clean the inducer housing and wheel
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Ensure inducer drains (if any) are clear
Proper blower maintenance keeps static pressure reasonable and helps avoid comfort complaints and limit trips.
4.4 Vent, Intake, & Combustion Air Inspection
Your tech should:
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Verify PVC vent and intake slopes are correct
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Check support straps and look for low spots holding condensate
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Confirm termination locations meet code clearances
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Inspect for signs of recirculation or exhaust staining
High-efficiency venting is not “set it and forget it.” Sagging pipes over time can cause drain and pressure problems.
4.5 Documentation
At the end of a proper tune-up you should see:
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Static pressure readings
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Temperature rise across the furnace
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Any parts replaced or recommended
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CO readings (if performed)
That’s how you know this wasn’t a five-minute “eyeball” visit.
5. Heat Exchanger Inspection (How It’s Actually Done)
The heat exchanger is the heart and lungs of your Goodman furnace. Cracks or holes are a safety issue—period.
A proper inspection may include:
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Visual check with mirrors or borescope
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Looking for burn marks, rust tracks, or staining
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Checking for separation at seams
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Observing flame behavior with blower on vs off (flame disturbance can indicate exchanger breach)
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CO measurement in supply air or vent (indirect indicator of issues)
Good homeowner rule: you don’t remove burners or open sealed compartments. You do ask your tech, once a year:
“Did you inspect the heat exchanger? What did you see?”
Guides like the HVAC Training Shop checklist emphasize this as a core annual task. HVAC Training Shop
6. Drain Trap Cleaning Procedure (for Condensing 96% Furnaces)
A 96% Goodman is a condensing furnace—it squeezes extra heat from the exhaust, producing condensate (water) that must drain through a trap.
A clogged trap can:
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Trip the pressure switch
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Cause intermittent operation
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Flood the furnace cabinet
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Rust components
There are detailed how-tos like
Condensate_Trap_Maintenance
and
Trap_Cleaning_Guide.
What a Homeowner Can Safely Do
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Visually inspect the drain tubing for kinks or sags.
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Make sure the line slopes downhill toward the drain.
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Check that the condensate pump (if present) is plugged in and not overflowing.
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Keep the floor drain area clear and clean.
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Watch for any water back-up inside the furnace area.
What the Tech Should Do Annually
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Remove and flush the trap with water and a mild cleaning solution
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Clear any slime or debris from the tubing
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Verify no leaks at connection points
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Check for proper priming of the trap after cleaning
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Confirm condensate is not dripping into the cabinet
Treat the condensate system like a critical component, not an afterthought. It’s a major factor in getting a long life out of a 96% unit.
7. Return Grille Cleaning & Basic Duct Face Care
You don’t need to “duct clean” every year, but return grilles absolutely need regular attention.
Monthly / Seasonal Tasks
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Vacuum each return grille with a soft brush attachment.
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Wipe metal grilles with a damp microfiber cloth to remove film and dust.
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If you can reach the first foot or two of ductwork with a vacuum hose, gently remove loose dust (don’t force it deeper).
Why it matters:
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Reduced dust load on filters and blower
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Less chance of dust burning and smelling on first startup
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Slight but real airflow improvement
Guides like the generic furnace maintenance checklists always include “clean vents and registers” for a reason. HVAC Training Shop
8. Lubrication & Electrical Checks (Where You Stop and the Tech Continues)
Most modern Goodman 96% furnaces use permanently lubricated motors (no regular oiling ports), so there’s not much for a homeowner to lube.
Homeowner-Safe Electrical/Lube Checks
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Listen for new motor noises (squealing, grinding, clicking).
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Look for any loose or hanging wires in the visible area of the blower compartment (don’t tug or move them).
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Make sure the furnace electrical switch is easy to reach and not blocked.
Technician-Level Tasks
During the annual tune-up, your tech should:
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Check blower and inducer bearings (noise, play, vibration).
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Verify motor amperage vs nameplate.
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Inspect and tighten electrical connections at:
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Line voltage entrance
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Control board terminals
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Grounding lug
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Check for signs of overheating on wires or boards.
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On older PSC motors (if present), test and possibly replace the capacitor.
If your furnace does have motors with lube ports (rare in modern Goodmans, more common in older gear), the tech should use proper HVAC-grade oil—not whatever’s on your garage shelf.
9. IAQ Filter Upgrades & MERV Ratings (Explained Like a Human)
You’ll hear “MERV 8, MERV 11, MERV 13” thrown around constantly with no explanation.
What MERV Means
MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) is a rating of how well a filter removes particles of various sizes from the air. Higher number = finer filtration.
A good quick reference is
MERV_Rating_Chart
Rough Residential Guide
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MERV 6–8
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Captures: Dust, lint, large pollen
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Pros: Low pressure drop, easy on older systems
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Cons: Meh on finer particles
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MERV 9–11
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Captures: Smaller dust, mold spores, some pet dander
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Good balance for many Goodman furnaces if ducts and blower are sized correctly.
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MERV 13 (ASHRAE’s preferred residential target where feasible)
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Captures: Finer particles, some bacteria, smoke, aerosols
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Pros: Big IAQ upgrade—great for allergy/asthma households
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Cons: Higher pressure drop—system must be able to handle it
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ASHRAE notes that as MERV goes up, pressure drop increases, which can reduce airflow and increase fan energy if the system isn’t designed or adjusted for it.
Hands-On Jake’s MERV Rules
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Check your Goodman manual or ask a tech what filter pressure drop your system can tolerate.
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If your ductwork is marginal or static pressure is already high, don’t jump straight to MERV 13.
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MERV 11 is often a safe sweet spot for comfort, equipment protection, and air quality in existing systems.
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If you want MERV 13 (or higher industry equivalents), talk to a pro about:
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Larger filter cabinets
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Media filters with more surface area
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ECM blower adjustments
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A good consumer-friendly explanation is here:
10. Putting It All Together: The Hands-On Jake Longevity Plan
If you want 15–20 years out of your Goodman 96% furnace, here’s the plan in one place:
Every Month (during heating season)
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Check/replace filter
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Visually check intake/exhaust PVC outside
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Wipe/vacuum return grilles
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Glance at the furnace area for water, rust, or odd smells
Twice a Year (Fall & Mid-Season)
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Confirm thermostat is reading close to room temp
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Inspect the blower compartment for heavy dust or water signs
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Test CO and smoke detectors
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Check vents and registers for blockage
Every Year (by a pro)
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Full burner and flame inspection
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Flame sensor testing/cleaning as needed
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Heat exchanger inspection with mirror/borescope
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Combustion analysis (where required or recommended)
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Blower and inducer inspection/cleaning
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Electrical connections check and tightening
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Static pressure, temperature rise, and airflow verification
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Condensate trap and drain cleaning, re-priming, and leak check
As Needed
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Upgrade filters thoughtfully (MERV 8 → 11; 13 only if system supports it).
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Address new noises or error codes early, not after months of “maybe it’ll go away.”
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Keep good notes: date of last tune-up, filter changes, and any repairs.
In the next blog, you will be going to learn about Cost Breakdown (2025): Equipment, Installation, Fuel Bills & Long-Term ROI
