Maintenance is a key part of homeownership. Now, for those houses that contain a furnace, it’s important to note that your furnace needs to be maintained regularly, especially for those houses in colder areas. They help to keep the interior warm and fuzzy during the winter months.
With maintenance, prevention is better than cure. Regular maintenance is better than waiting for a disaster to surface. But sometimes, despite your efforts, some problems can still arise with your furnace that’ll need urgent attention from a professional service provider like Air Makers and others.
Below are some signs that your furnace needs repair:
- Loud Noises
A unit that’s working normally may produce a consistent indistinct sound to signify that it’s working fine. This sound isn’t loud, but if the furnace develops unfamiliar loud or strange noises during operation, it’s a sign that something could be broken or isn’t working properly. Loud noises aren’t only irritating, but they’re also not supposed to occur.
There are a few instances wherein the noise simply fades away on its own. However, if these loud or strange noises continue, you have to call professionals like Lennox furnace repair or your local equivalent to have a look at the furnace.
- Yellow Pilot Light
All furnaces come with a pilot light that turns either blue or yellow. A yellow pilot light is a sign that the flame isn’t burning properly, and the normal color is blue. One reason the pilot light could turn yellow is that some parts are rusting or there’s a gas or water leak that’s interfering with the proper function of the burners. Therefore, if you see a yellow pilot light, call your contractor immediately for emergency repair.
- Difficulty Turning It On
If you’re struggling to switch the furnace on, this is a telltale sign it needs repair. If the knob feels sticky or seems unresponsive, call your contractor so they can attend to the issue as soon as possible. It’s best to call the experts because trying to fix it yourself may worsen the problem.
The main reason you may encounter problems is wear and tear. Wear and tear are to be expected with older equipment. However, it’s rarely so with new equipment. But still, newer furnaces aren’t exempt from developing this problem too. Professionals such as those at Lennox furnace repair can fix this issue ably because they involve simple fixes such as cleaning a dirty furnace filter and replacing the indoor AC coils.
- Constant Triggering Of The Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon monoxide is quite hazardous to anyone’s health. Its colorless and odorless properties make it difficult to detect with our human senses, thus the need for a detector.
So, if there’s a carbon monoxide leak in your home, you need to act on it before any member of your household is adversely affected. If the carbon monoxide alarm in your house is constantly going off, don’t ignore it, but take it as a sign that your furnace needs urgent attention. The more it persists, the more you’re exposing yourself and others to the harmful effects of this substance.
- Strange Smell
Furnaces normally don’t give off pungent odors when they’re turned on. Therefore, if you notice strange smells coming from your furnace suddenly, call your service provider immediately. A strange smell could be a sign that there’s a leak in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Gas is usually the culprit.
So, if you smell gas coming from the furnace, it’s best to switch the unit off immediately until the maintenance person arrives because gas is a flammable substance and can be dangerous.
- Uneven Heating
It’s normal for different areas of the house to have slightly different temperatures. For example, the basement is cooler than the rooms upstairs. But if you’re noticing that the temperature disparities (the differences between hot and cold temperatures) are becoming too pronounced, it could be a sign that your furnace needs to be serviced. It means that it’s not dispersing heat evenly.
- High Utility Bills
If you use your furnace and other household items normally and notice higher electricity bills suddenly, it could be a sign that your furnace is using more energy than it’s supposed to. It’s normal for electricity bills to fluctuate, but if you notice an unusual spike, it’s a red flag. Call your contractor for help as it needs to be checked out as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Maintaining your furnace is extremely important because, in some rare cases, a malfunctioning unit can be dangerous. But if you take care of it, it’ll take care of you. Therefore, like every other part of your house that needs regular maintenance to stay intact in the long run, your furnace needs the same attention too. So, if you notice any of the above issues, contact your local professional as soon as possible to get them fixed.
