Lanz Plumbing, Heating & Cooling prepares homeowners for winter with furnace tips, comfort program

By Elizabeth Hess September 16, 2025 1:20 pm

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — As fall approaches and temperatures begin to dip, Jeremy Eagan, HVAC technician with Lanz Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling is urging local residents to take furnace maintenance seriously — not just for comfort, but for safety.

With nearly 20 years of experience working on furnaces in the Champaign-Urbana area, Eagan says preventative maintenance is one of the best ways to avoid mid-winter breakdowns. “Furnace maintenance is very important for a system’s life,” Eagan said. “We clean the burners, check the condensate trap — all things the average homeowner just can’t safely or effectively do.”

At the top of Eagan’s homeowner to-do list? Change the filter — and choose the right one. “Not all filters are created equal,” Eagan warned. “High-end allergen filters might clean the air better, but they can severely restrict airflow, which can damage your system over time. It’s all about balance.”

For those who forget or struggle to keep up with filter changes and maintenance, Lanz offers a Comfort Family Program. It includes scheduled visits, routine maintenance, and even delivery of a year’s worth of filters — matched specifically to the homeowner’s system and needs. “We literally drop them off at your door,” said Eagan. “We make it easy.”

Solutions for Dry Winter Air and Indoor Allergies

Dry air is another common complaint during Illinois winters. Eagan says whole-home humidifiers can make a major difference, especially for people with respiratory issues or even sensitive musical instruments like pianos. “You can get small humidifiers for one room, but a whole-home humidifier distributes moisture evenly through the entire house — and we maintain those too,” Eagan said.

When it comes to air quality, Eagan personally recommends air scrubbers — a device installed in the furnace’s ductwork that ionizes and removes particles like dust, allergens, and even some bacteria. “I’m allergic to cats — and I have a cat,” he shared. “But once I installed an air scrubber, I stopped having reactions. I can walk through the house and breathe normally.”

Safety Comes First

Beyond comfort and air quality, safety is a major reason to schedule regular furnace inspections. “I’ve seen flue pipes come apart and vent carbon monoxide right into a customer’s attic,” Eagan said. “It’s invisible, it’s dangerous, and people don’t know unless someone checks.”

The Comfort Family Program includes safety checks and early detection of failing parts — often preventing emergency breakdowns in the middle of a cold snap. “We’d rather fix a small problem now than leave you waking up cold in January,” he said.