If your furnace acts up, it may be time to call an expert to have it checked out before it breaks down in the dead of winter. Even unobtrusive changes can evolve into something worse if not immediately dealt with. Below are signs that it is time to have your furnace checked by a professional.
High energy bills
If you are paying more for your energy bill, then that may mean it’s time to have your furnace serviced. Your furnace may need to work harder than usual to increase your home’s temperature if the filter or coil is dirty, or if some parts have weakend.
A low-cost servicing can lessen your monthly energy bills and thus save you money. Additionally, older units lose their effectiveness after some time. So, if you have been using your unit for 20 years, you may want to consider a replacement rather than repair.
Inconsistent heating
If every room in your home isn’t receiving proper heating, or your furnace is constantly switching on and off, a professional may be needed for repairs. Dirty or compromised ducts, clogged filters, faulty thermostats, or improper furnace sizing can cause inconsistent room-to-room temperatures. If you’ve had your home remodeled or extended, then this necessitates a need for a furnace upgrade as well. However, if your home size hasn’t changed, you may need your furnace repaired to fix your heating issues.
Strange noises
When you hear strange or loud noises coming from your furnace, that’s a cause for concern. It may be a high-pitched screeching, a low banging, or a persistent rattling noise, but regardless, you should contact a furnace repair expert right away. A mechanical pr oblem may be causing the sound and this needs to fixed immediately, so as not to damage the rest of the furnace.
Often, loud noises can indicate that the heater is near the end of its life, but a specialist can diagnose the issue with certainty and offer the best solution, irrespective of what’s causing the strange noises.
Carbon monoxide detected
Any amount of carbon monoxide may be harmful to a family’s health and well-being. The flickering or yellow colouring of the pilot light signals the presence of carbon monoxide. If you have rusting pipes, excess water on windows or cold surfaces, or your family is experiencing malaise, your home may have carbon monoxide. Turn off your furnace immediately if you suspect air contamination. After, get in touch with a professional to inspect the unit or install a new one.
Runs continuously
If the blower is running in a non-stop manner and the home doesn’t seem to get very warm, or it gets too cold, the limit switch, pilot light, or filters might have a problem. You’ll find that a professional will be able to check on the mechanics and diagnose the problem you’re having. Sometimes, a simple repair is enough, but other times there will be a need for furnace replacement.
Yearly Furnace Servicing
To lessen the number of replacement needs or repair calls you need to get regular service maintenance for your furnace. A certified technician will clean and examine all working parts of the unit during this inspection to ensure proper functioning throughout the winter. A yearly inspection of the furnace will help to prevent you from running into untimely repairs, and can even help reduce allergies. The same technician could also service your air conditioning system, as they often use the same ducts and blowers.
