5 Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair
Whether you’re a homeowner or renting a property, you shouldn’t overlook keeping your house warm, especially during the winter season. A furnace unit enables you to keep the cold away. You don’t want the furnace breaking down in the middle of a cold day. To avoid this, you should make sure that your unit is always in good condition. If you know what to look out for, you’ll be able to tell when your furnace needs maintenance. In this article, we’ll take a look at some signs that show your furnace needs repair.
1. Lack of Proper Airflow
For your furnace to heat your home efficiently, there needs to be proper airflow. This is because one of the functions of your furnace is to move air; hence when there’s a change in airflow, it affects its performance.
If you notice that some rooms in your home are hotter or cooler than others, it might be that there are changes in your airflow. One of the factors that can affect the airflow is a clogged blower fan. You’ll need to call heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor to deep clean your blower fan. You can easily find furnace repair companies in your area by typing “Furnace repair near me” in the Google search box.
2. Difficulty Turning the Unit On
The older your furnace gets, the harder it gets to turn it on. Do you have to try several times when you’re starting your unit? Then your furnace needs a repair. A faulty thermostat or disconnected wiring can make it hard to start your unit or keep it running. If this is the case, then you’ll need an HVAC contractor to replace the damaged part.
3. Uneven Heating
Uneven heating or poor air circulation is one of the main signs that show your furnace needs repair. If your air ducts are damaged, it can lead to uneven heating because warm air will escape. Poor air circulation can also occur if your heat exchanger isn’t working efficiently. Whatever the cause may be, the best solution is to call a furnace repair service to take a look at your unit and fix it.
4. Yellow Pilot Light
A furnace pilot light is a small flame in your unit and provides ignition for the larger burners.
Ideally, the pilot light in a furnace should be blue. If it’s yellow, it could be a sign that your furnace is emitting carbon monoxide into your home. Your furnace is designed to direct dangerous gasses out of your home through a duct known as a flue. However, if this duct is blocked, you and everyone in your home are in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, you should immediately put off your unit and call a professional to diagnose and fix the problem.
5. Abnormal Smell
It’s normal for your furnace to smell like the fuel you use, but this smell should not linger for days. Otherwise, your furnace has a problem.
Strange smells can be a sign of a gas leak or excessive dust build-up in your unit. Call a professional to determine the cause of the smell. All in all, we’ve seen how a faulty furnace can affect the heat in your home. We’ve also looked at signs to look out for to determine whether your furnace needs repair.
In some cases, you might decide to fix the problem yourself, but it’s better to have a professional diagnose the issue and repair it before it gets worse. An HVAC professional with years of experience can also diagnose and solve deficiencies that you might have missed to ensure your unit lasts longer.