How to Tell If Your Furnace Needs Repair

While it may be tempting to take on small home repair projects, DIY projects can be dangerous when dealing with major equipment like a furnace. Failed DIY repairs can damage the equipment and cause fires, explosions, or electrical short circuits that put your family’s safety at risk. Professional HVAC contractors are well versed in proper heating repair procedures, so they’re the better choice to handle furnace repairs.

If you notice that certain rooms in your house are always colder than others, or that you have to change your thermostat settings frequently to keep the entire house warm, this is a sign that your furnace isn’t functioning properly. Uneven heating can also indicate a problem with the burner or an electric heating element, or even a broken thermocouple. If you notice these issues, turn off the power to your furnace at the main electrical entrance panel and call a professional.

Popping, banging, or screeching sounds coming from your furnace are usually a sign that something is wrong. Dirty air filters and clogged ductwork are common culprits, but a worn out ignitor or flame sensor can also cause these sounds. A professional can replace the ignitor or clean the flame sensor to resolve these problems.

Does your home have a musty, dusty, or stale odor? This is a sign that your furnace is old and isn’t properly heating the house. A newer, more efficient model would likely solve this issue.

Failing to schedule regular maintenance appointments for your furnace can result in a host of expensive repair issues. A professional technician can inspect the system, clean it, lubricate moving parts, and replace worn-out parts to ensure optimal performance.

While this will cost you more than just a simple maintenance appointment, it’s an effective way to save money on your energy bills and prevent future problems from occurring. Many homeowners are hesitant to spend the money on a new furnace when their old one is still working, but a qualified technician can help you decide whether an expensive repair bill or a new, more efficient system is worth the investment.

A good rule of thumb is that if your furnace is 15 years old, you should consider replacing it instead of investing in costly repairs. After all, a newer model will typically offer lower energy bills and comes with warranty coverage in the event of a breakdown. In some cases, a Furnace Repair company will be able to provide you with a quote for a replacement unit that will pay for itself in just a few years of savings on your utility bills.