How to Tell If Your Furnace Needs Repair
If you smell a burning or oily odor from your furnace, that could indicate a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is a flammable gas that can be fatal to your family if not addressed immediately.
You might also notice radically different temperatures throughout your home. This can be caused by a malfunctioning thermostat or even clogged filters.
Signs of a Broken Furnace
Furnaces have to work hard to keep your house warm, and that work often takes a toll on their internal parts. When the system starts to wear down, it can cause a lot of problems that need repair. Some issues can be spotted with routine home maintenance, while others need to be dealt with by a professional. The key is to catch small problems before they become big ones, which can lead to costly service calls or even a broken furnace.
The best sign that your furnace is in need of a little tender loving care is if your energy bills have started to climb. While increases in your electric or gas bill may be due to a number of different factors, they can also signal that your furnace is aging and starting to wear out.
Another telltale sign that your furnace needs a checkup is when you start to notice strange noises coming from it. Healthy furnaces usually maintain a quiet whirring sound, but unusual groans, banging, or rattling can indicate a problem with your system. These noises can point to issues like a bad igniter or a faulty flame sensor that needs to be replaced.
You may also notice that the air in your house feels dry and dusty. This is often caused by a dirty filter, which can force the system to work harder to push air through the system. This puts too much strain on the system and can wear down the internal parts, which can cause the furnace to shut off. A simple replacement of the filter can fix this issue and improve the quality of your indoor air.
Finally, if your furnace keeps tripping the circuit breaker, this is an obvious sign that it’s time to get in touch with Furnace Repair Sandy Utah. This problem can be incredibly dangerous and should only be fixed by a certified technician.
If the heat exchanger in your furnace has cracked, it will need to be replaced. This is a major job that should only be handled by a professional, as it involves disassembling the entire unit and replacing the damaged part. This can be expensive, but it is a better option than leaving the crack in the heat exchanger to spread and damage the rest of your unit.
Thermostat Issues
If you're not getting the warm air you're used to out of your vents, it may be time to call Furnace Repair Sandy Utah. However, before you do that, there are a few things you can check on your own.
Start with the thermostat. Make sure it is set to HEAT and not OFF, and that the temperature is higher than the current indoor temperature. It should be around 5-10 degrees hotter. Also, if the thermostat is digital, make sure it is showing a valid date and time. If not, reset it.
Often, when a furnace isn't running properly, it is because the thermostat is either faulty or misreading the environment. A technician will be able to troubleshoot the problem and determine what is preventing your furnace from working correctly.
Another common problem with furnaces is that they're starting and stopping too much. This can be a sign that your furnace is overheating, and it's important to have a technician come take a look at the situation immediately. It can also mean that the heat exchanger is leaking or that the limit switch is failing.
The first step to determining the cause of this is to change the filter. Dirty or clogged filters can restrict airflow and overheat the heat exchanger. This can cause the system to shut down prematurely and can also lead to poor indoor air quality.
If the filter isn't the issue, then the next thing to check is the high limit switch. This is the safety switch that prevents your furnace from overheating. If it is tripping frequently, then there's likely a buildup of soot and other debris over the flame sensor rod. This can hamper the sensors ability to detect a flame, which triggers the safety features to shut down the unit.
Lastly, if your furnace is constantly turning on and off, then this could be a sign that the circuit breaker or fuse for the unit has tripped. You'll need to head over to your home's breaker panel and check to see if the switch for the furnace is in the off position. If it is, then you'll need to turn it back on and see if this fixes the problem.
Leaky Furnace
If you notice a puddle of water near your furnace or see that the puddle is getting bigger, it could mean your system is leaking water. Water leaks from a furnace are never good and can lead to serious problems if not addressed in a timely manner.
Leaking water from a furnace is often caused by damage to the condensate lines. These are designed to collect condensation as it forms on the evaporator coil, which then runs through the drain pan and away from the furnace. Damage to these channels can cause them to crack, causing the condensation to drip out. This is what often leads to water puddles around a furnace.
The other common cause of a leaking furnace is that the PVC drain line has become clogged. The PVC drain line carries any spilled water away from the furnace. If this becomes clogged, it will lead to the same result as the cracked condensate line – the condensation will run out of the furnace and into your home instead of going through the drain pan.
Another reason you may notice more water around your furnace is that the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced. Dirty filters will restrict airflow through the evaporator coil and lead to it freezing up. This will also reduce the effectiveness of the air quality system, leading to poor indoor air quality and increased energy consumption.
While you can tinker with your furnace to fix some issues, it is best to let an experienced professional handle the more complicated ones. Trying to make repairs on your own can lead to more expensive problems later. If you suspect your furnace is in need of repair, contact a local heating and cooling specialist to schedule an inspection and repair. The sooner you call, the more likely you will be able to avoid costly damage to your furnace and property this winter. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, so it is worth a little bit of extra effort to ensure your home is comfortable and safe.
Dirty Furnace
If you notice that there is a burning smell when you turn on your furnace, this could be a sign of a dirty filter. Dirty filters block air flow, causing the system to overheat. They also circulate contaminants throughout your home, which can cause a variety of health problems including breathing difficulties and allergies.
A dirty air filter can be especially dangerous for anyone in your family who suffers from asthma or has a compromised immune system. If your family has allergies or asthma, the clogged dust will trigger symptoms and lead to coughing, sneezing, and other unpleasant reactions. Poor air quality can also cause chronic health issues such as headaches and fatigue.
It’s important to change your furnace filter regularly and keep it clean to avoid overworking your system. A clogged filter will increase the overall wear and tear on your system and result in higher energy bills. It will also force your system to work harder to push air through, which can damage it and void your warranty.
When you notice that different rooms of your house are warming up differently, this can indicate a dirty filter or an issue with your ductwork. Furnace Repair Sandy Utah will be able to assess the situation and determine what needs to be done.
Another common warning sign of a dirty furnace is excess dust and soot around the heating registers. This can be caused by a lack of maintenance, clogged vents, or even a broken air filter. It’s important to have this problem fixed as soon as possible because it can lead to Carbon Monoxide leaks and other serious problems.
Other signs of a dirty furnace include a grinding noise when you turn the system on, a rumbling noise after the system completes a cycle, or a popping sound when turning on the thermostat. Any of these issues can cause serious damage and should be assessed by Furnace Repair Sandy Utah. If you try to fix the problem yourself, you could end up damaging your system, voiding your warranty, or even starting a fire. Furnace Repair Sandy Utah will be able to help you quickly identify the source of the problem and get it fixed as soon as possible.
If you smell a burning or oily odor from your furnace, that could indicate a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is a flammable gas that can be fatal to your family if not addressed immediately. You might also notice radically different temperatures throughout your home. This can be caused by a malfunctioning thermostat or even…