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Winter is on its way, and the last thing you want to experience is having a malfunction with your heating system! As the busiest season in the HVAC and heating industry, resolving a problem in the heart of winter can mean waiting much longer than you would like before repair services get to you. To avoid this risk, we always suggest that you pay close attention to your heating system now, so you can be sure you are comfortable and safe this winter.
Many warning signs are subtle, and often overlooked or ignored by homeowners. If you are experiencing any of these signs, it would be wise to schedule a visit from a professional heating technician sooner rather than later:
Older furnaces and forced-water heating systems are known to have the occasional banging, rattle or clang. However, if your system seems to be suddenly making a lot of odd noises, call your heating repair company. Excessive noises, squealing, and loud rattling indicates a problem. Ignoring them will lead to bigger, more expensive repairs.
If it seems like you are forever fussing with the thermostat to maintain a consistent temperature, it may be time to have your heating system checked out.
If you are having trouble getting the right temperature in some parts of your house, but not others, it is likely something with your heating system. It’s wise to get this checked out quickly. Not only will you be more comfortable throughout your home, but you will head off any issues before they get worse.
Just like an older vehicle, there is a point of diminishing return with repairing heating systems. If you’ve been putting more money every year into repairs and replacements, your heater may have a serious problem, or simply not be worth continuing to fix.
Does it seem like your furnace is kicking on and then shutting off a lot? This can be an issue with your thermostat or some kind of malfunction with the heating unit. If your boiler or furnace is short cycling, it’s time to call your heating technician.
If you need to really turn your heat up high to feel warm, you very likely have a problem. While it may be a calibration issue with your thermostat, it could also be any number of larger system or unit problems.
When your electricity and/or gas bill seems to be enormous, it could be a heating malfunction. Over time, all heating systems become less efficient, especially if they have not been serviced annually. This reduced efficiency means your heating system has to work harder and longer to get your home to the right temperature. That spells using more energy and higher bills.
The pilot light and burner flame on your gas furnace should ALWAYS be blue. When either of these elements shows an orange, yellow, red, or green flame is a bad sign. These colors indicate that your furnace may not only have issues, but be leaking harmful gases in the form of carbon monoxide. Contact your heating repair service immediately to address this issue.
Carbon Monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that can cause flu-like symptoms, headaches, dizziness, or persistent fatigue when you are at home. If you experience these, vacate your home immediately and call for a repair.
The average life expectancy of a heating system is 15 to 20 years. If your system is heading that way, now is the time to start planning for a replacement. New systems are a big-ticket item, and there are a lot of factors to consider. Giving yourself a couple of years to prepare will make it easier on your stress level and budget.
Older systems were not designed with today’s energy efficiency, and they lose what efficiency they had over time. This will drive up your energy costs as well. With an older system it’s more important than ever to stay on top of annual maintenance to keep on top of repairs.
If any of these telltale signs sound familiar, you may be in need of a heating system repair. Get them address sooner rather than later. You will be heading off a potential danger to your family, and avoiding small problems becoming big, expensive problems.
If you are experiencing any of these warning signs, or its been a few years since you had an annual cleaning, schedule a heating system inspection and repairs as soon as possible. You don’t want to let issues go until they become even larger (and more expensive). A unit working in top condition is more efficient, so you will save on utility bills. You will also be ensuring that there are no deadly gases or other fire dangers in your home. An annual cleaning is a couple hundred dollars, versus thousands in repairs or replacement.