Arrange a professional furnace inspection each year, follow the equipment’s care instructions, and maintain working carbon monoxide alarms. A gas odor or CO alarm needs an immediate emergency response, not a routine maintenance appointment.
Start with a professional furnace inspection.
When you plan for winter in Tucson, put the furnace on the list before you need it regularly. A system that heats the house still needs routine attention. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a yearly professional inspection of fuel-burning heating equipment, including its chimneys, flues, and vents.
Ask for a furnace inspection when booking, and describe your equipment if you know it. If your home uses a heat pump, request a heating-mode assessment suited to that equipment. Our heat pump and furnace guide explains the difference.
Reference: CPSC guidance on home heating inspections.
Make simple checks without opening the furnace.
- Check an accessible filter. Inspect it monthly and follow the equipment and filter instructions for replacement. Ask for help if access requires climbing or opening unfamiliar equipment.
- Keep the area clear. Follow the manufacturer’s clearances and keep stored belongings away from heating equipment. Leave supply and return grilles unobstructed.
- Leave service work to a professional. Do not adjust gas valves, remove burners, bypass a safety control, or repeatedly reset equipment that stops unexpectedly.
Keep a note of anything unusual you have already noticed. There is no need to recreate a problem to show a technician.
References: ENERGY STAR filter care and Southwest Gas appliance safety.
Check carbon monoxide protection.
Carbon monoxide, or CO, has no color or odor. CPSC recommends battery-powered CO alarms, or alarms with battery backup, on every level and outside sleeping areas. Follow the alarm manufacturer’s instructions for placement, testing, batteries, and replacement.
An alarm is an additional layer of protection; it does not replace equipment maintenance. A silent alarm does not establish that an appliance is working correctly.
References: CPSC carbon monoxide safety and CO alarm care and limitations.
Know when to leave and call for help.
If a CO alarm sounds or you suspect CO exposure: get everyone outside to fresh air immediately and call 911. Do not re-enter until emergency responders permit it. Headache, dizziness, nausea, or confusion can be warning symptoms.
If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak: leave immediately. Avoid switches, thermostat controls, flames, and anything that could spark. From a safe location, call 911 and Southwest Gas at 877-860-6020. Do not stay inside to find the leak or wait for a service appointment.
Emergency guidance: CPSC response to CO alarms and Southwest Gas leak response.
Ask for findings you can use.
At a routine inspection, ask which components were checked, what the technician found, and whether anything needs correction before further operation. Request an explanation of any photos or measurements rather than relying on a general “tune-up complete” description.
- What is included in today’s inspection?
- Were any areas inaccessible or outside the visit’s scope?
- What work is recommended, and what is its priority?
- What homeowner care and next service date fit this system?
Keep the report with previous maintenance records. For non-emergency scheduling, book a heating visit or call Service Pro at 520-368-0089. We offer Tucson heating service and 24/7 emergency HVAC assistance; suspected gas leaks and CO exposure require emergency services first.