Are You in Need of Furnace Repair?
As cold weather approaches it’s important to make sure your furnace is in good working condition. You don’t want to 
fire your heating system up on the first frigid morning of the season only to realize something is in need of repair. If this happens, not only will you and your family be forced to bundle up in your own home until someone can come to assess and fix the issue, you also run the risk of freezing and bursting a pipe, which is a whole new set of costly headaches for you to worry about.
Here are five signs that you are in need of furnace repair.
Unusual Sounds or Smells
It’s to be expected that a running furnace will make some noise, and when first turned on you can anticipate the smell of burning fuel, but if there are persistent unusual sounds or smells coming from your heating system, you will likely want to have that checked out.
If you hear any of the following noises:
- Persistent rattling
- Deep banging sounds
- High-pitched screeching
- Pops and squeaks
Or experience any of the following smells:
- Strong fuel smell that lingers longer than usual
- Sudden odors not necessarily associated with starting the unit up
- Any smell that does not dissipate over time
Then you may want to look into contacting someone about furnace repair.
An Increase in Your Heating Bill
If you heat your home in a consistent manner yet your heating bill is continuously rising, that’s a sign that you may be in need of furnace repair. The older and more worn out a furnace is, the more energy and time it requires to keep your home heated. This means that it becomes more and more costly for your furnace to do the same job.
If you notice an unusual increase in your heating bill, there are a few easy fixes that may return it to its original efficiency. Sometimes it’s as simple as replacing a filter or some coils or any other part that may be on its last legs.
If your unit is old enough, it may be more worthwhile for you to replace the whole thing. Any furnace that exceeds 20 years in age may not be worth the constant repair trouble it will cause or the extra money it will cost on your bill to maintain the temperature you desire.
Issues with the Pilot Light
Your pilot light is the constantly burning flame that is there to ignite the gas that begins the process of heating your home. The flame’s color should always be blue. If it’s not blue, that can indicate an issue with your furnace.
When the gases produced by your furnace are not being properly vented it will alter the color of the pilot light’s flame. These gases can then leak into your home and become toxic to you and your family or possibly cause a fire. A pilot light that is burning yellow may be indicative of a carbon monoxide leak which is a serious, potentially deadly, problem. If you find your pilot light is not blue, immediately contact someone to help you with furnace repair.
Problems Heating the Home
This should be one of the more obvious issues that indicate you are in need of furnace repair.
If you feel your heating system is not doing its usual job, or if your home has no heat at all, there are a number of issues that could be occurring with your furnace.
Among these are issues are:
- Faulty or leaky ductwork
- A malfunctioning blower fan
- Issues with the heat exchanger
- Issues with the pilot light
- A faulty thermostat
The entire home does not need to be frigid for some of these problems to exist. You may find that there are certain cold spots throughout the house or that the heating system is struggling to reach the temperature you’ve set the thermostat to. Fortunately, most of these problems are easily diagnosed and repaired with the help of a qualified technician.
Age
As previously stated, all furnaces do have a shelf life. If you’ve kept your unit well-maintained, it should last well into the range of 15-20 years. After that, you need to keep a close eye on it in order to keep it functioning efficiently and effectively.
If you find that your furnace is in need of constant repairs and is exhibiting any of the previous issues in spite of maintenance, it may be time to consider replacing the unit altogether. At a certain point, it becomes more costly and stressful to keep an old unit running than to invest in a new one. Furnace repair can only do so much for a worn-down unit.
Don’t Stress About Furnace Repair!
When any of these issues arise with your heating system, Stith Plumbing & HVAC has you covered. Contact us today and we’ll have a qualified technician there to assess and solve the problem in no time.