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Indicators You Need A Professional To Fix Your Furnace
Keeping your home’s furnace in excellent condition is crucial, especially during winter. Aside from the major inconvenience, it can also be dangerous for you and your family when the heating system suddenly stops working during the coldest season. Avoid this hazard by learning what furnace problems you might encounter. Here are some warning signs that your heater is failing and that you need it repaired by HVAC contractors.
You Have Difficulty Turning/Keeping the Furnace On
If your heater is old, it probably has a hard time turning on and staying on. If this happens, chances are that you need a furnace repair service. The system might not operate at all because of an electrical surge. If the heater won’t stay on, it’s possibly due to short cycling. This situation occurs when the heating cycle frequently switches on and off without reaching the thermostat’s set temperature.
You Sense Cold Spots
The main purpose of a furnace is to keep your home warm, particularly during cold months. But if your property does not have enough heat, your unit might be blowing cold air due to a faulty motor. The system might also not be blowing warm air whatsoever because of a malfunctioning pilot light or heat exchanger. It would be best to contact a furnace expert when you feel cold spots in some areas of your house.
You Feel Uneven Temperature Around the Area
Different rooms or spaces in your house may have different temperatures. This is likely due to your furnace failing to distribute heat consistently and evenly throughout your home. This situation might be caused by an old heater struggling to produce and dispense heat.
You Hear Weird and Loud Noises
It’s typical for an HVAC system to produce noises when it’s operating. However, strange rackets like banging, thumping, popping, buzzing, rattling, and squealing from your heater are not normal. They may indicate mechanical issues, a clogged burner, airflow reduction, or an overworking machine.
You Smell Gas and/or Burning Odor From the Furnace
If you caught a whiff of rotten egg in your home, turn the furnace off immediately. This is likely a result of a gas leak, a dangerous scenario that needs prompt action from a professional. You also might notice a burning scent coming from your heating system that usually indicates an overheated furnace or burnt dust that accumulated in the machine. Either way, contact an HVAC specialist immediately to handle the problem.
You Hear the Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm Beeping
When your furnace’s carbon monoxide monitor goes off, this can be caused by CO leaks. If you hear this device beep, turn off your heater at once and open up the windows to dissipate the deadly gas. You also need to contact an HVAC specialist to deal with the problem before it becomes a health and safety hazard for you and your family.
You Notice a Yellow Pilot Light
For natural gas furnaces, signs of CO leakage can be detected when the pilot light flames burn yellow instead of the usual blue color. Since this toxic gas is odorless and colorless, make sure to consistently inspect the pilot light of your heater when you use it. Get in touch with an HVAC technician right away if this issue occurs.
You See Pools of Water Around the Furnace
Water buildup near or under your heater might mean water leakage, which may be caused by a clogged condensate line. Though not as alarming as a gas leak, you might need to call an HVAC specialist to inspect and repair the furnace.
You Have Unusually Higher Heating Bills
When you notice that your energy bill is higher than average, it might be because of an old and inefficient furnace working overtime. This is due to the device using more fuel to deliver heat throughout the home. Call your local furnace technician if your heating bill has unexpectedly and significantly increased.
A furnace properly and consistently maintained can last between 15 and 20 years. One of the best ways to maximize your heating system’s usage is by keeping up with its routine inspection and maintenance. However, if you start noticing signs of a faulty furnace, have it promptly fixed before it gets damaged beyond repair. Avoid this scenario by reaching out to a team of professional HVAC contractors near your area.