Your furnace is the cornerstone of your home’s heating system. It is essential to keep it in good working condition, so it can provide you with heat during cold winter months. But how do you know if your furnace needs servicing?
Here are eight sure signs that tell you need a furnace repair:
1. Uneven Heating
If some rooms are warmer than others or one side of the house feels much cooler than the other, this could be due to an issue with your furnace. The most likely cause is that something is blocking the airflow of your system.
This could include worn belts or filters, damaged blower fan motor, restricted air ducts and more. An HVAC technician who conducts regular furnace maintenance should be able to diagnose the source of this issue and resolve it quickly.
2. Strange Noises
Any strange noises coming from your furnace such as clanging, grinding, squealing or buzzing is a sign that something is wrong. These noises could be due to a variety of issues including loose parts, worn motors and more.
3. Higher Energy Bills
If you’ve noticed an increase in your energy bills without doing anything different with your heating system, this could be a sign that your furnace needs servicing. Issues such as cracks in the heat exchanger or an inefficient blower motor can cause your system to work harder than usual leading to increased energy bills.
4. Yellow Pilot Light
The pilot light on your furnace should be blue, however if it turns yellow this indicates a combustion problem. This is because yellow flames produce more carbon monoxide than blue flames.
Carbon monoxide can be very dangerous to humans and animals so get a technician to inspect your system right away if the pilot light is yellow.
5. Unpleasant Smells
Any unpleasant smells coming from your furnace could indicate the presence of dirt, dust, or mold in the system which will need to be cleaned out by a professional. It might also mean that there’s an issue with the gas line as natural gas has its own distinct smell.
6. Frequent Cycling
If your furnace keeps turning off and on without any user input, this is a sign that it needs servicing. This could be due to a variety of issues such as a faulty thermostat, clogged air filter or dirt buildup in the system.
7. Age
The average furnace has a lifespan of 15-20 years. If your furnace is approaching this age range, you should consider replacing it before any major repair costs occur.
8. Short Cycling
When your furnace turns on and off every few minutes instead of running for extended periods of time, this is known as short cycling. This issue can happen due to many different factors such as low refrigerant levels or an undersized unit being used for the space size. Have an HVAC technician inspect your system if you notice short cycling occurring.
In conclusion
It is important to keep an eye out for any signs that may indicate your furnace needs servicing. From uneven heating, strange noises and higher energy bills to yellow pilot lights, unpleasant smells and frequent cycling; all these serve as tell-tale signs that something is wrong with your system.
Regular maintenance should help prolong the life of your furnace but when things do go wrong make sure you call in an experienced
