Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give CandysDirt.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in  for “Upon Closer Inspection.”

North Texas winters are hard to predict, but our furnaces are getting a bit of a workout this year.

In case HVAC isn’t your area of expertise, the furnace is the part of your system that generates heat to send warm air through your ventilation system. It’s one of the more expensive pieces of equipment in your home, so it’s important to take care of it. A well-maintained furnace will work more efficiently, last longer, and cost less to run. You should have your furnace serviced by a professional at least once a year.

But of course, not everyone does.

Skip Maintenance, Pay Later

This is an older-aged unit nearing the end of its life. In the close-up, you can see a build-up of dust and rust that is … epic. This furnace hasn’t been maintained for some time. It’s a concern, not only because it’s probably shortened the life of the unit, but a furnace in this poor condition could be a fire hazard. It could be blowing combustible air back into the attic, or causing the unit itself to heat up due to overwork, even causing the unit to shake and dislodge electrical or gas lines.

Know Your Age

The inspector took this photo because it was the oldest working furnace he’d ever seen. The age and efficiency of your furnace are good to know, so that you can plan for future expenses. A new furnace will cost $5,000-$10,000 depending on the situation, so you want to know if it’s going to be an immediate expense or a 5 or 10 year issue.

In this video, our Inspector caught a dangerous oversight with a newly installed furnace.