Gas furnace maintenance checklist

Your gas furnace maintenance checklist should be completed at least once annually, ideally before the heating season begins in early fall. For commercial buildings or older systems, consider bi-annual maintenance—once before winter and once after the heating season ends. Regular maintenance prevents unexpected breakdowns during peak usage periods and extends equipment lifespan.

Documenting maintenance with a detailed checklist creates proof that you’ve followed manufacturer requirements for regular service, which is often necessary to maintain warranty coverage. If you don’t perform and properly document professional maintenance each year, also manufacturers will often void your warranty, potentially costing you thousands in repair expenses.

A proper maintenance checklist includes critical safety inspections of the heat exchanger for cracks, verification of proper venting, testing of the flue for proper draft, and checking carbon monoxide detector functionality. These steps specifically target the components most likely to cause dangerous carbon monoxide leaks, which are colorless, odorless, and potentially fatal.

A digital gas furnace maintenance checklist allows technicians to include time-stamped photos of components, record precise measurements, automatically generate professional reports, track maintenance history across multiple visits, and ensure consistent service quality across different technicians and properties, ultimately improving accountability and service documentation.