Posted: January 19, 2026
When it comes to winter weather, Vermont can hold its own: We get snow, ice and bone-chilling cold. That’s why your furnace is one of the most important pieces of equipment in your home. And, that’s why it’s good to know the basics of how your furnace works—and how to take good care of it of it, so it runs well when you need it, and you can troubleshoot small problems before they turn major.
A furnace uses combustion to heat air and deliver it throughout your home via a system of ductwork. The unit uses a heat exchanger to warm incoming air, and a blower or air handler sends the heated air through the ducts to warm your rooms. Return ducts send cool air back down to your furnace to repeat the process.
Your thermostat tells your furnace when you need heat and when your rooms reach the set temperature. Today’s furnaces include updated systems such as sophisticated heat exchangers; microprocessor-based controls and high-pressure flame retention burners that all drastically improve efficiency and help keep your home more comfortable. Available in gas-fired or oil-fired versions, they have minimum AFUE ratings of 80%, depending on the type of system—many are higher.
All that technology helps you save money on heating bills, but you need to take care of it. The best way to do that is with good maintenance.
An annual tune-up is the key to keeping your furnace running properly. In addition to helping prevent breakdowns, regular maintenance by our trained pros helps ensure your system is running at peak efficiency. That means you’ll burn fuel more efficiently and keep heating costs down. Regular maintenance also extends the life of your equipment—an investment you don’t want to have to make too soon.
Here’s what a tune-up includes:
Annual tune-ups also protect your warranty. Most heating equipment warranties require routine professional service as a precondition; skip your tune-up and your manufacturer’s warranty could be voided, leaving you to pay out of pocket for expenses that would have been covered.
There’s no wrong time for a tune-up, but some seasons are better than others. The best time is spring or summer, because you can have your choice of appointments. Fall is very busy, and winter is less convenient, since we need to turn off your system while we perform maintenance. But it’s a service you shouldn’t put off. The pros at Roberts Energy have decades of experience helping families in northern Vermont keep their homes warm. Whether you have home-heating equipment questions, are looking for reliable heating oil, kerosene or propane delivery, or need equipment installation or service, Roberts’ team is here for you.
Contact us form more information today.
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