83% of newly built homes in America utilize forced-air furnaces.
In Houston, there may not be much use for your furnace during most of the year. The last thing you want when the temperature dips is a furnace that doesn’t work. Fortunately, your furnace will let you know when it has problems, so you can fix them if you know how to recognize them.
In today’s post, we will tell you 7 of the biggest signs that you need furnace repair. Getting prompt furnace repair services will ensure that you don’t end up with costlier issues, or worse, needing total furnace replacement. Keep reading and make heating your home in the winter a priority.
1. Not Producing Enough Heat
One of the clearest signs your furnace will give you that it’s got problems is when heating your home becomes difficult. When you turn up the temperature on your thermostat, your furnace should kick in and start producing heat immediately.
When you don’t feel the heat, you’ve got furnace problems. The issue could be as simple as a faulty thermostat that you can replace for $100 or more intensive issues like a broken blower motor or malfunctioning pilot light. To properly diagnose and fix the problem, you need an HVAC professional.
2. Making Unfortunate Sounds
All types of furnaces make noise as they fire up to heat your home. This should raise an alarm, but when your furnace won’t stop making noise or makes unusual noises, it’s cause for concern.
If you hear loud banging, rattling, or squealing, the best thing to do is turn off your furnace and call in a professional. Banging and rattling could signal loose or broken internal components, so continuing to use the furnace could risk further damage.
Similarly, squealing noises could have something to do with the ignition system. If your furnace ends up with a resulting gas buildup, it could become dangerous over time.
3. Making Unfortunate Odors
You’ll notice a trend of relying on your senses to detect furnace problems. It’s not unusual to smell fuel odors when you turn the furnace on for the first time after a long period of dormancy, but this smell dissipates in a minute or two.
If a fuel odor appears out of nowhere and doesn’t go away, you must turn your system off immediately. It could be a minor issue, like dirt or debris clogging the unit, but the worst scenario is that you have a gas leak.
Gas leaks are extremely dangerous. The more gas that builds up in your home, the greater the risk of explosion. It also poses a major carbon monoxide poisoning risk, which can be deadly.
4. Cycling Problems
Short cycling is a common issue with older furnaces as they wear out and struggle to reach the desired temperature in your room. You’ll notice this behavior when your furnace frequently turns on and off, but it could signal a few other issues beyond age-related ones.
For instance, it could be something simple like a clogged air filter. As a furnace owner, it’s important to change your air filter regularly. These prevent allergens and contaminants from entering your home, but the filters will become clogged over time.
The more clogged they are, the harder the furnace will have to work, which can create a lot of wear and tear. Simply changing the filters will ensure your system works well for the long haul.
Cycling issues could also be related to airflow or thermostat issues. If you’re diligent about changing your air filter and you’re still experiencing cycling problems, get a professional in for an HVAC inspection.
5. Poor Indoor Air Quality
Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, much of which is spent in the home. For that reason, indoor air quality should always be a major priority for every homeowner, especially here in the South, where the muggy air is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Often, you can tell if your indoor air quality is suffering. When you start to notice more debris, dust, and allergens in your home, it’s time to start considering your air quality.
As mentioned above, this is most likely due to a clogged air filter. This is a simple bit of HVAC maintenance you can perform on your own, every 90 days or so. It could also have something to do with the filtration system, so regular professional HVAC maintenance is also integral to maintaining air quality.
6. Visible Damage
The average homeowner doesn’t spend much time inspecting their furnace for damage. Most types of furnaces should last between 15-20 years, or more with proper maintenance. Near the end of that lifespan, however, you may start to notice visible signs of wear and tear.
Things to look for include cracks, rust, and corrosion, which compromise the structural integrity of the unit itself. If you can see visible damage on the outside of the unit, you can bet that there’s as much on the inside. An HVAC professional can tell you if it’s time for repairs or replacement.
7. Spiking Energy Bills
One of the clearest signs that you need furnace repair services is a spiking energy bill. When your bills go up suddenly and severely, it tells you that your furnace is using a lot more energy than usual.
A furnace’s energy efficiency is directly related to how well it’s functioning. Of course, using less energy is great for the environment, but it’s also important for your finances. As soon as you notice higher energy bills, schedule an appointment to have your unit inspected.
Simple additions can improve your HVAC system’s efficiency. A smart thermostat, for example, can make it so that you only use your furnace at certain times of day or in certain parts of your home. This alone will greatly reduce your energy usage and bills.
Get the Best Furnace Repair Services in Houston
All of these signs indicate some problem with your furnace, so it’s important to get furnace repair services as soon as you notice them. To get your furnace repaired by the top HVAC company in Houston, look no further than McCann Services.
For over 30 years, we’ve been helping Houston residents maintain and repair their HVAC systems. Contact us today to schedule an inspection to get your furnace repaired and working optimally.