During winter, it can get extremely cold. In this chilly season, your furnace becomes an essential installation in keeping your house comfy and averting seasonal problems, such as burst pipes. However, it is easy to forget about your furnace for half the year, only to remember when winter is around the corner.
During the many months when your furnace remains dormant, the unit might easily get damaged without you noticing it. Regular repairs and maintenance of your furnace will ensure it is in good working condition before winter sets in. Below are 5 signs to alert you that your furnace needs repairs.
Poor Quality of Air
If poorly maintained, your furnace might easily spread dirt, dust, germs, and other foreign fragments all over your home, alongside the heated air from the unit. Such unwanted particles will highly compromise the quality of the air circulating in your home.
Unusual dust in the air, accompanied by frequent colds, coughs, and other respiratory illnesses in your house, might indicate an air quality issue. A dirty furnace normally causes such problems. You might need experts to help you replace your filter or professionally clean your ductwork to resolve the air quality issue. A repair offer from your trusted local HVAC contractor, such as the CM Heating offers would be ideal for you.
Difficulty In Starting Up The Furnace
As your unit’s age advances, it may become more and more difficult to turn it on and keep it working. The moment you realize that you must make many attempts at starting or restarting your furnace in a day, it could be a clear sign that the unit needs urgent repairs. Such a problem might emanate from a disconnection in wiring or a faulty thermostat. The issue can be sorted out once the affected parts are replaced or repaired.
Funny Noises Emanating from the Furnace
Most furnaces are noisy when running. However, unusually loud and stubborn noises point to a serious underlying mechanical issue. You should pay close attention to any funny noises coming from your unit and possibly describe them to a professional HVAC contractor for repairs. In most cases, groaning and banging noises might be caused by a loose or broken internal part, while whistling, and squealing sounds might emanate from fan or belt problems.
Discolored Pilot Light
It is advisable to monitor the color of your unit’s pilot light. Under normal circumstances, the light should be blue. Any different pilot color, mostly yellow, might indicate a ventilation issue. The change of color happens when waste gases such as carbon monoxide don’t disintegrate as expected. If not addressed promptly, this problem can be hazardous to you and your family. Gases such as carbon monoxide are poisonous and can make your furnace flammable.
Unusual Furnace Smells
It is normal for furnaces to smell like the fuels that they consume, especially when you turn them on for the first time after a long time. Most such odors disappear as the unit keeps running. However, if you notice a sudden odor, a pungent smell of fuel around your furnace, or a strange scent that refuses to go away for long periods, this is a clear sign of a furnace problem. Such smells might originate from either excessive dust in the unit or a gas leak. It is advisable to contact your HVAC expert, who can help you figure out what the problem is and sort it out immediately.
Conclusion
If you see any of the above signs, you should move quickly and take appropriate action. Sometimes, the tell-tale signs might seem as harmless as an unusual sound in your unit that lingers longer than usual. However, it might represent a serious or even potentially dangerous underlying problem. As much as you can fix some of the simple issues, it is always advisable to consult your trusted HVAC contractor before taking action.
