By Brenda Ashaka
Alpha 4 Real AC Repair & Service, Katy, TX
A furnace in good working condition is the most important appliance in the winter. It’s what makes your home a comfortable haven from the frigid winter cold.
As with any other appliance, the furnace undergoes wear and tear as it operates. It will develop problems from time to time and require fixing in order to perform as it should.
When these problems occur, it’s important to have them repaired immediately by an experienced furnace repair specialist before they can cause a major breakdown.
The good news is that it’s not too difficult to determine when your furnace needs repair. As long as you pay attention to your unit, you can always tell when your heater (HVAC) isn’t functioning properly.
If you notice any of the following signs, it’s time to call a furnace repair expert in Houston, TX, to diagnose and repair the issue.
Here are 10 signs that you need to call your furnace repair specialist in Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Sealy, Missouri City, and Stafford, TX
- The Furnace Isn’t Heating Your House Effectively
- The Furnace Won’t Start Properly
- Your Furnace Starts and Stops Frequently
- There’s a Sudden Spike in Your Energy Bills
- The Pilot Light Flame isn’t Blue
- Loud Noises Coming from the Furnace
- Odd Smells Coming from the Furnace
- You Notice Water Around Your Furnace
- The Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
- The Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off
1. The Furnace Isn’t Heating Your House Effectively
Failure to heat your home adequately is the most obvious sign of an underlying problem with your furnace.
If you find yourself constantly adjusting the thermostat or notice cold and hot spots in your house, this is a clear sign that you need to engage a furnace repair service.
Perhaps the furnace is struggling to generate the required amount of heat or push the heated air into the rooms. Examples of issues that can cause inconsistent or uneven heating include a damaged motor, leaks in the ductwork, and faulty thermostat. These are all issues a trained HVAC repair technician can handle.
2. The Furnace Won’t Start Properly
Are you having trouble turning your furnace on?
An underlying problem could be the cause. Some issues that can cause your furnace not to start properly include a damaged thermostat or faulty wiring. A heating repair professional can identify and fix the issue, so your furnace starts without hiccups.
3. Your Furnace Starts and Stops Frequently
Short cycling is a sign of a faulty heating system.
You’ve set your furnace to achieve a certain temperature, but the furnace keeps going off before reaching the desired temperature and then turning back on.
This is referred to as short cycling and there are two reasons it could happen. Either the furnace isn’t the right size for your home or something needs repair.
4. There’s a Sudden Spike in Your Energy Bills
As your air conditioner ages, your heating bills with rise steadily. A sudden spike in the energy bill, however, indicates that something has gone wrong with the heating system and requires repair.
See also: Signs You Need a New Heating (HVAC) System in Houston, TX.
When a part is damaged, the heater will struggle to heat your home and consume too much power in the process.
5. The Pilot Light Flame isn’t Blue
One of the easiest way to tell whether your furnace has an issue is to monitor the pilot light flame through the cover tents.
A healthy furnace emits a blue pilot light flame because the burners are clean and there’s adequate ventilation.
Any other color whether orange, red, purple, green, or yellow is a warning sign of problems with the heat exchanger or burner. A yellow flame is especially serious as it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
You should turn off the furnace right away and call your HVAC repair specialist.
6. Loud Noises Coming from the Furnace
You’ve probably gotten used to the low spinning and whooshing sound your furnace produces during operation. However, loud banging, popping, buzzing, rattling, squealing, screeching, grinding, whistling, rumbling, or any other unusual noises aren’t normal.
They signify that an internal component is loose or broken and should be checked by a furnace repair contractor.
7. Odd Smells Coming from the Furnace
A furnace in good repair shouldn’t emit any odor. The initial smell the furnace emits as soon as you turn it on should dissipate quickly.
Any strange smells coming out of your furnace signify problems that require prompt attention. For example, a burning smell points to electrical issues while a fuel smell indicates an oil leak.
8. You Notice Water Around Your Furnace
If you notice water pooling around the furnace, you have a furnace problem on your hands.
Water can leak due to a blocked condensation line or clogged drains. A HVAC professional will identify the underlying issue and fix it to stop the leakage.
9. The Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
One of the top reasons homeowners find themselves paying for furnace repair in Houston TX is old and frayed wiring. Furnace electrical issues should only be repaired by a HVAC or electrical professional.
You can tell if your wiring is faulty if you notice a burning smell or if the circuit breaker for the furnace keeps tripping.
10. The Carbon Monoxide Alarm Goes Off
A cracked heat exchanger or combustion issues can result in a buildup of carbon monoxide in your home.
If your heater is on and the carbon monoxide alarm goes off, switch off the furnace and call your furnace repair provider right away.
Conclusion
A furnace in good repair is vital for keeping your home comfortable through the winters. It’s important to be on the lookout for telltale signs that your heating system requires fixing.
Be sure to call a HVAC repair professional in Houston, TX if you notice any of the above issues. A qualified technician will then inspect your heating system, diagnose the problem, and fix it.
Having your furnace repaired will not only ensure your home stays comfortably toasty but it will also prevent a major breakdown and keep your heating bills low.
Neglecting these simple issues could result in a major breakdown that requires costly repair or replacement and leaves your family without a working heating system when you need it most.
Simple repairs done in time can prevent a major breakdown and save you thousands in costly repairs and energy bills in the long run.
