A furnace is a very important appliance in any home, especially during the cold winter months that will soon be here. It keeps you and your family warm and comfortable when the temperatures outside are at their lowest. But like any appliance, home furnaces can have problems from time to time and you may need furnace repair. Here are seven signs that your furnace may be having issues and in need of repair.
Don’t Overlook These Key Signs That You Need Furnace Repair
A good working furnace is a must and although many furnaces can last for many years, they don’t last forever. Sometimes a small problem can happen and cause the entire furnace to stop working putting you into a frigid situation. Proper maintenance and inspections can help to ensure your furnace is always running efficiently. However, if you notice any of the following signs, you may have a problem that needs repairs:
Your furnace is making strange noises
If you hear rattling, banging, or squeaking coming from your furnace, it’s definitely time to call a professional. These sounds can indicate that there are loose parts inside the unit that need to be repaired or replaced. While the furnace can make some strange noises during operation, anything different is usually not a good sign.
The pilot light is yellow or orange
A pilot light that is operating as it should will be blue in color. If it’s yellow or orange, that means there’s a problem with the air/gas mixture or valve which could be a fire hazard. You should shut off the furnace immediately and call a technician to come take a look. You may also notice soot around the pilot light area which usually accompanies an improper pilot light.
Your energy bills have skyrocketed
An increase in your energy bills can be a sign that your furnace is working harder than it should be because it’s not operating as efficiently as it used to. This could be due to a number of issues such as a clogged filter or other issue that a technician can help you resolve.
The room where the furnace is located is too hot or too cold.
If you notice that the room where your furnace is located feels either much hotter or colder than the rest of your home, this could also be a sign of an impending problem. It could mean that hot air is escaping from the unit or that cold air is leaking in somewhere. If your furnace is located in the basement where heating should not be present, and it feels warmer than the rest of the home, you’re actually running the furnace to heat the basement as well. This can cause an increase in energy costs and improper heating in the home since the warm air is escaping in the basement.
There’s soot around the unit
Your furnace should burn a very clean flame that is always blue in color. It should not produce any soot around the unit. If you notice any soot build-up around your furnace, it could be due to an incomplete combustion process caused by a number of problems including a cracked heat exchanger which can be a very serious issue for a furnace to have. This is definitely something you’ll want to get fixed as soon as possible by a professional HVAC technician. Also, make sure you have proper carbon monoxide detectors in place as well.
You’ve had the furnace for more than 15 years
Even if your furnace seems to be running fine, if it’s more than 15 years old then it might be time to start thinking about replacing it with a newer, more efficient model. Over time, furnaces will start to wear down and become less efficient, so getting a new one could help save you money on energy bills in the long run. Plus, there are many great new features that are included on many of the newer furnaces such as zoned heating control, programmable thermostats, and air purifiers.
No one wants their furnace to break down in the middle of winter, but sometimes these things happen despite our best efforts at preventative maintenance. If you notice any of the problems listed above are happening to your home’s furnace or you want to inquire about getting a new furnace installed in your home be sure to contact J&K Heating and Cooling today at (734) 587-3184. We provide free quotes on furnace replacement and have qualified technicians ready to help solve all your furnace problems in Monroe County Michigan.