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When it comes to home maintenance, the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” couldn’t be truer.
The good news is that most homeowners are well aware of this and, in turn, prioritize maintaining their homes.
In fact, the Angi 2025 State of Home Spending Pulse report found that 71% of homeowners are focused on preventive maintenance to avoid costly issues later. And 62% of them are more concerned about affording maintenance than they were at the end of 2024.
Two smart ways to maintain your home and save thousands down the road? Furnace tuneups and water heater flushes—and getting them done before the weather turns cold.
Don’t wait until winter to maintain your furnace and water heater
Picture this: On the first chilly night of fall, you try to crank up the heat only to find out your furnace doesn’t work. The next morning, you wake up ready to take a shower and warm up, but you don’t have any hot water.
Both of these annoying issues could be avoided by being proactive before the colder temps set in. Get your furnace tuned up and the water heater flushed as early as Labor Day weekend, if you can swing it.
“I recommend tuning up your furnace and flushing your water heater once a year in the early fall. If you live in a cooler climate and need to use the heat from early fall to late spring, then get the furnace tuned up twice a year in the fall and spring,” says Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angi.
If your water is particularly hard and often leaves residue and soap scum, you might want to flush your water heater twice a year, in the fall and spring. Keep in mind that experienced professionals usually book up quickly, so it’s better to take care of these tasks sooner rather than later.
Why putting off furnace and water heater maintenance can cost you
It might be tempting to simply forgo furnace tuneups and water heater flushing to save some cash in the short term. If you do so, however, you’ll likely spend a lot more money in the long run as repairs can become more expensive and a replacement may be in order.
The numbers speak for themselves.
“It can cost about $50 to $200 for a pro to tune up your furnace. However, replacing a furnace can cost over $2,000 to $7,000. To flush your water heater, it will cost about $200, but replacing it will cost about $2,000,” explains Hicks.
Think about it. Would you rather spend a couple of hundred bucks to maintain these key systems or thousands to replace them? There’s a good chance you’ll choose the former.
Other important home maintenance tasks
Furnace tuneups and water heater flushes are just two of the many home maintenance initiatives to put on your priority list. Hicks suggests these additional tasks:
Get your thermostat in order
Make sure your thermostat has good batteries, and set a schedule that works for you.
“You may even consider a programmable thermostat so that you can set it to a warmer temperature in the morning and cooler temps during the day while you’re gone,” explains Hicks.
Change furnace filters
Don’t forget to change your furnace filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. You’ll likely need to do this every three months. But if you’re unsure, reach out to your manufacturer directly.
Install weatherstripping
“It’s a good idea to add weatherstripping around your windows and doors to prevent warm air from leaking out,” says Hicks. There are several types of weatherstripping available—many of which are available at your local home improvement store.