Are you a homeowner? When was the last time that you had your furnace inspected by a professional? It's the middle of summer and it's understandable that you wouldn't want to stop and think about the coming winter months. But summertime is actually the best time to get your furnace checked out. There are a number of reasons why this is, but some of the most important reasons include:

Avoid delays: Have you ever had a year where you turned on your furnace for the first time and nothing happened? Maybe you got a little bit of heat, but not nearly enough. This happens to many people so that by the time you get around to calling your heating company or plumbers to come out and take a look at the gas line, you're going to find yourself waiting for days or even possibly weeks until someone can come out and do whatever needs to be done. By having your furnace inspected and repaired now, you'll be able to know that your furnace will work when winter finally arrives.

Avoid danger: One big thing that plumbers can do for you is to check your furnace for gas leaks. Even though your furnace may have been fine last winter, age and corrosion can result in leaks that aren't going to be obvious at first. However, these leaks can cause gas to accumulate in various locations when the heater is in use but isn't currently running. This gas buildup can cause fires or be an explosion hazard. To prevent this from happening, every year you should get a thorough inspection of your furnace and the gas line that leads to it.

Save money: Because fewer people are having their furnaces repaired or replaced during the warm summer months, some plumbers and other companies that offer heating services may be offering discounts for having work performed now. At the very least, you're going to be avoiding paying whatever fees there are for having emergency or expedited services performed. If it turns out that your furnace is actually due to be replaced, furnaces may be cheaper in late summer and early fall as warehouses want to clear out last year's models so that they can stock this year's furnaces. Since improvements from one year to the next are often relatively minor, it usually makes sense to buy one of these "older" furnaces rather than the newest model.

For more information, talk to a company like Travers Plumbing & Heating Inc.