As Labour Day approaches, it is always a good time to be considering furnace maintenance during the Fall months. Your furnace system is one of the essentials for maintaining a comfortable internal temperature inside your house during the colder months. When you have an efficient heating system it will make your life much more content and bring longevity to the infrastructure of your home.
Whenever there is a problem with a heating system, most people believe that it will be very expensive to hire a professional furnace repair service. However, that is not true!
A professional furnace repair technician is the key to making sure the heating system in your home continues to function correctly. They will also provide you with quality repair services. Having maintenance scheduled on a regular basis is critical to keep the heating system in your home running efficiently, reliably, and within any warranty terms that are applicable.
Expert furnace repair technicians must have the right certification and proper training in order to keep your worries of receiving bad service under control. They should have hands-on experience in their field and know how to do things safely and properly. A 'Do It Yourself' job may result in making problems worse and also end up costing you more money.
Hiring a Laird & Son professional furnace maintenance and repair expert can save a lot of money on your home energy bills in addition to making sure that your furnace runs efficiently all year long.
10 Signs That Your Furnace Needs To Be Repaired
A furnace's average lifespan is around 15 years. However, even if you end up trading in your old model before its time for a newer model, it won't have trade-in value. What that means is that it is not only wise but vital to keep your furnace properly maintained. It is definitely worth running your furnace until it has reached its maximum lifespan. Listen and watch for signs that your heater might need to have a tune-up. That will enable you to identify problems before the lifespan of your furnace is shortened.
Sign No. 1. You Have Neglected Or Ignored Your Furnace For At Least A Year
Figure out when was the last time that your furnace was checked by a professional HVAC technician. If it was a year ago or longer, then you are overdue for having annual maintenance done on your furnace. You should at least have your filter replaced, considering it should actually be done once a month. A majority of HVAC repair companies provide monthly services for that, in addition to being able to automatically schedule regular annual check-ups. Make sure to put it on your calendar and create a new habit to keep your furnace healthy.
Sign No. 2 There Are Pools Of Water Surrounding Your Furnace
It is possible for your furnace to leak two substances: water and gas. A water leak is much less dangerous compared to a gas leak. However, it still needs to quickly be addressed to keep your house warm. This problem can easily be identified by checking for any water pooling under or close to your furnace. Usually, that is caused by having a clogged condensate line. It is better to have a professional handle this type of problem since it requires HVAC expertise to repair it.
Sign No. 3 You Smell Gas
Unlike water, you can usually identify a gas leak when there is a smell of gas. If that is the case, then you should immediately shut your furnace down. Then open the furnace, and shut the gas supply valve off. Don't turn on lights or light matches in your house and be sure to contact us as soon as you can.
Sign No. 4 There Is A Bang, Scrape, Or Thump During The Night
A strange noise is one of the most obvious red flags and signs that your furnace is in need of repair. When you hear a bang, scrape, or thump, that means there's something wrong with the HVAC system. A trained technician can determine whether or not the noise will go away on its own.
Sign No. 5 The Air Is Blowing Weakly
If the heater in your car has ever been broken then you already know that air can go quickly from freely flowing to barely blowing out of the vents. There are several reasons why that can also happen with your furnace. It can range from minor issues with fans up to major problems with motors and belts. The bottom line is that our HVAC technician needs to come out and look to see where the system needs to be repaired.
Sign No. 6 Your Thermostat Stops Working
When your thermostat becomes ineffective you need to turn your heat up higher to keep it warm. That is definitely a sign that your furnace is in need of repair. The main job of the thermostat is telling your HVAC system the amount of heat that it should produce. When it stops doing this, you need the problem to be addressed by a professional. Quite often these kinds of malfunctions are caused by electrical problems such as tripped circuit breakers, loose wiring, or blown fuses. Due to the risk of shock, it can be dangerous to try to fix them if you don't have formal training. Instead, you should call us and we will send out our HVAC professional.
Sign No. 7 Your Utility Bill Increases Unexpectedly
If your heating bill skyrockets without having a corresponding increase in use, that is another strong indication that your system needs to be repaired. There are a couple of things that might be wrong, including ductwork problems, and it is often very hard to determine what the problem is.
Sign No. 8 Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air
If your furnace is blowing cold air rather than hot air, this is obviously not good. The most common causes are problems with the pilot light or thermocouple, which are both complex components that must be evaluated by a specialized expert. Do not try to solve the problem yourself.
Sign No. 9 There Is Constant Or Frequent Cycling
If the furnace is repeatedly turning on and off, that indicates that it is probably over cycling, which means that it is running more frequently than it should. A clogged filter might be causing the problem, issues with the thermostat, or improper air circulation.
Sign No. 10 Your HVAC Is Getting Old
Is your furnace getting old? As previously mentioned, a furnace has an average lifespan of 15 years, meaning it could live to be 20 or die when it is 13. quite often, regular maintenance can make a big difference in how long your furnace lasts.
You know those cold nights that you decide to curl up and watch a movie? What makes these nights possible is your furnace, or at least they make them a lot more pleasant than they otherwise would be. So should at least keep it running smoothly to pay back your furnace.
One of the most effective and best ways of doing this is keeping a regular maintenance schedule. Every fall, get a preventative check-up and consider getting one mid-way through the season, especially during a demanding winter. This is an excellent way to reduce the odds of having problems to begin with.
No matter what, you need to stay vigilant and watch for all of the signs mentioned above. One common thing that you might have noticed is that most of the problems should be handled by professionals. Whenever your HVAC system needs some care, the best thing to do is to call us and make sure your furnace is treated right. You definitely won't regret it since it can add a few years to your heater's life, and a few bucks in your pocket.