Furnace Maintenance
in Elma, WA
Every no heat call we take in December has a history. The filter was three seasons old. The blower had been squealing since spring. The flame sensor was carbon coated and the furnace had been shutting itself off for weeks before anyone called it a problem.
We are Hanson Heating & Cooling, a family-owned heating company based in Elma and serving Grays Harbor, Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties. We are fully licensed, bonded and insured (License #HANSOMS824KQ), with EPA Section 608-certified technicians and we have been in business since 2018. Annual maintenance is the cheapest work we do, and it prevents most of the expensive work.
What Our Maintenance Customers Say
★★★★★
"Hanson Heating and Cooling fixed the gaps between dusting and ceiling grills, made huge difference. These folks are very kind and respectful and provide efficient service for my mini splits and gas furnace."
Valorie S., Google review
★★★★★
"Caring, professional and prompt service everytime! Dale and Shawn nursed the heck out of our old system for years and did a fantastic job installing the new system. Priced fair, always above and beyond expectations thank you so much for the quick service and online payment process."
Susan J., Google review
★★★★★
"Great company. I will definitely recommend to others! Thank you"
Tammy M., Google review
Preparing a Furnace for a Pacific Northwest Winter
Our winters are not brutally cold. They are long, damp and relentless. A furnace in Grays Harbor County does not face many 10 degree nights, but it runs for months on end at partial load, and that is its own kind of wear.
Damp air is the piece people miss. Moisture accelerates corrosion on the heat exchanger and the flue, and homes near the coast get salt in that air on top of it. We see rust on venting in Aberdeen and Montesano homes at ages where an inland furnace would still look clean.
So what does a furnace actually need before it carries you from October to April? Not much, but it needs it every year.
Why an Annual Furnace Inspection Matters
Three reasons, in order of importance.
Safety. A cracked heat exchanger leaks carbon monoxide into the air you breathe. You cannot smell it. An annual inspection with a CO meter is the only reliable way to catch it early.
Warranty. Most furnace manufacturers require documented annual service to keep the parts warranty valid. Homeowners find that out at the worst possible moment, when a claim gets denied. We leave you the documentation.
Cost. A furnace with a restricted filter and a dirty burner burns more gas to deliver the same heat. Small losses compound across a five month heating season.
What Our Furnace Tune Up Includes
Safety Inspection
- Heat exchanger inspection for cracks and corrosion
- Gas connections checked for leaks
- Flue and venting inspected for blockage, rust and correct draw
- Carbon monoxide levels measured at the supply
- Safety controls and limit switches tested for correct shutdown
Calibration and Component Checks
- Thermostat calibration against actual room temperature
- Ignition system cleaned and tested, including the flame sensor
- Burner assembly cleaned and flame pattern inspected
- Blower motor amp draw measured, belt tension and wear checked
- Electrical connections tightened and inspected for heat damage
- Moving parts lubricated where the manufacturer calls for it
- Gas pressure verified against the manufacturer's rating plate
Airflow and Efficiency
- Filter inspected and replaced
- Ductwork checked for leaks and disconnected runs
- Registers and returns checked for obstructions
- Temperature rise measured across the heat exchanger and compared to spec
That temperature rise measurement is the one most tune ups skip. It tells you in one number whether the furnace is moving the right volume of air. Outside the manufacturer's range, the unit is either overheating or barely working, and everything else you adjusted is beside the point.
Local Expertise for Grays Harbor Homes
We have worked on this area's housing for years, and the patterns repeat. Older Elma and Satsop homes with furnaces in unconditioned crawlspaces, where the ductwork sweats and the insulation gave up a decade ago. Manufactured homes around Montesano running sealed combustion furnaces that need a very specific filter size nobody stocks locally. Newer high efficiency condensing units where the condensate drain clogs and trips a safety switch, and the homeowner assumes the furnace died.
In our experience the single most common cause of a furnace fault call around here is not a failed part at all. It is airflow. Filters, closed registers and leaking ducts, in that order. If your ducts are the problem, ductwork repair fixes the comfort issue that no amount of furnace tuning will.
Filters are worth one more word, because the advice online is wrong for this area. A high MERV filter marketed for allergies chokes airflow on older equipment that was never designed for that much resistance, and we pull them out of struggling furnaces every autumn. On a system in good shape a pleated filter changed every 90 days does more good than an expensive one left in for a year. Homes with wood heat as a backup, pets, or a gravel driveway need it closer to every 60 days, and there are plenty of all three between Elma and Satsop.
Trusted Brands, One Standard of Service
We are an authorized dealer for Trane and Mitsubishi, and we install and service Hisense, Daikin and Bosch equipment. We also maintain furnaces we did not install, whatever badge is on the door. If a tune up turns up something serious, we move straight into furnace repair and tell you the cost before we touch it.
When a furnace is genuinely at the end of its life we say so rather than selling you another year of tune ups. That conversation covers furnace installation and replacement options, financing options, and the fact that new equipment we install comes backed by a 10-year parts warranty and a 1-year labor warranty.
Furnace Maintenance Questions
How often should a furnace be serviced?
Once a year, before the heating season. Twice yearly is worth it only for systems running heavy duty cycles or homes with heavy dust or pet load.
When is the best time to book furnace maintenance?
Late summer through early fall. Once the first genuinely cold week hits, every heating company in Grays Harbor County is booked out, and a tune up competes with no heat calls.
Does maintenance really keep the warranty valid?
For most manufacturers, yes. Parts warranties commonly require proof of annual professional service. We document every visit so you have the record if you ever file a claim.
How long does a furnace tune up take?
Usually 60 to 90 minutes for a single furnace in an accessible location. Crawlspace installations and multi system homes take longer.
Will a tune up lower my heating bill?
It helps, mostly through clean burners, correct gas pressure and unrestricted airflow. The bigger savings on an old furnace come from replacing it, and we will tell you honestly which situation you are in.
Comfort Plans and Scheduling
Our Comfort Plans put your annual service on a schedule so it does not depend on you remembering in October, which is the month everyone in the county calls at once. Booking in late summer or early fall gets you the widest choice of appointment times. Waiting until the first frost does not.
Running a heat pump alongside the furnace, or instead of it? Those need annual attention too, and our HVAC maintenance service covers both systems in one visit.
Schedule Your Furnace Maintenance Today
We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and closed weekends. Visits to 516 W Eaton St, Elma, WA 98541 are by appointment only.
Call (360) 470-3993 or contact our Elma team to get on the schedule. We serve Elma, Montesano, Aberdeen, McCleary, Shelton and communities across Grays Harbor, Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties.