Furnaces often experience wear over time, leading to inefficiencies and potential breakdowns. Various signs can indicate your furnace may need repair, including strange noises and uneven heating. Learning to recognize these signs and scheduling a furnace repair appointment can improve its longevity and keep your home warm during the winter. Here are nine signs that suggest your furnace may require a repair:
1. Increase in Energy Bills
If you notice a sudden and unexplained increase in your energy bills, it could indicate that your furnace is working harder than usual to maintain the set temperature. This could be due to wear, age, or malfunctioning parts and could mean that it is time to repair or replace your furnace. Our experienced technicians at Mr. Furnace can look at your furnace and provide options to increase energy efficiency. This may help reduce heating costs and improve the performance of your furnace.
2. Unusual Noises
Unusual noises such as banging, popping, creaking, squealing, and grinding can indicate mechanical problems. It could be a simple loose piece or a complex internal part that needs to be replaced. Ignoring these sounds can potentially lead to more damage and higher repair costs. Our technicians can conduct a visual inspection, check for loose or broken components, lubricate moving parts, and provide professional recommendations for necessary repairs.
3. Frequent Cycling
Furnaces work by turning on when the air in your home gets too cold. Frequent power cycles can indicate that your furnace is malfunctioning. This can be caused by a malfunctioning thermostat, a clogged filter, overheating, or an oversized furnace. These short cycles may reduce the lifespan of your furnace and lead to increased heating bills. At Mr. Furnace, we can inspect and resolve issues with thermostat settings, air filters, blower motors, and other causes of frequent cycling.
4. Non-operational Furnace
If your furnace won't turn on, or it takes multiple tries to turn it on, then it may need to be repaired. You can troubleshoot this problem by making sure the furnace's power connection is secure and checking for dirty filters. If you've gone through these steps and the furnace still won't operate, consider contacting our professional HVAC technicians for a thorough diagnosis.
5. Cold Home
If your home isn't heating up as quickly as it used to, it could mean your furnace is working harder than it should be. This can make the winters more uncomfortable and reduce energy efficiency. Contacting an experienced technician can help determine and repair possible problems, such as blocked ductwork or a damaged heat exchanger.
6. Abnormal Smells
Abnormal smells, such as a sudden burning smell, can be a sign of poor combustion or overheating. Lingering, musty smells could be a sign of mold. If you smell gas, turn off your furnace and leave your home until a technician can service it. Gas is highly flammable, and a gas leak could potentially start a fire in your home. Any lingering, new smell coming from your furnace should be addressed and repaired promptly.
7. Uneven Heating
Uneven heating throughout your home may indicate that it is time to get your unit serviced. Some variation in temperature across your house, such as a cooler basement and a warmer upstairs, is generally normal. If you notice that some rooms are significantly colder or warmer than others or that there are hot and cold patches around the house, your furnace may not be functioning properly. Clogged ducts, problems with your thermostat, or a faulty blower motor can lead to uneven home heating.
8. Visible Signs of Wear
Visible signs of wear, such as rust or cracks, can suggest a problem with your furnace. Rust can mean there are moisture issues, which can deteriorate your heating system and impact its efficiency. Cracks in your heat exchanger can pose a risk of carbon monoxide leaks. Having these issues repaired helps reduce these risks and improve the efficiency of your system.
9. Yellow Pilot Light or Carbon Monoxide Alarms
The pilot light inside the furnace should burn blue. If it looks yellow, it could mean that there is excess carbon monoxide production. You can also tell if there is a leak if your carbon monoxide alarm is going off. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas with no color or smell, which is why homes should have carbon monoxide detectors. If either of these situations occurs, evacuate your home, contact emergency services, and call a technician to repair it safely.
Contact Mr. Furnace for Reliable Furnace Repair
A well-functioning furnace can help maintain a warm and comfortable home during the winter. To help address problems and avoid breakdowns, pay attention to signs like uneven heating, increased energy bills, and visible wear. Mr. Furnace offers furnace repair services to keep your home heating system operating at peak performance, regardless of your equipment's make and model. Contact us at any time for 24/7 service.
