Replacing Sensors on Your HVAC System

6 Telltale Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair

25 November 2020 by Olivia Morris

Learning to spot the first signs of a furnace breakdown could help you save both time and money. The sooner you deal with a malfunctioning furnace, the lower the repair bill is likely to be. Here are a few telltale signs that you need to get in touch with a heating repair service.

1. Gas Smell

The most urgent sign of a malfunctioning furnace is a strong smell of natural gas. This smell is similar to eggs that have gone bad. Gas is not poisonous to breathe in, but it is highly flammable, so it is important to deal with a gas leak immediately. Turn off the furnace, open a window to let out the gas, and call a heating repair service right away.

2. Unusual Noises

Any time a furnace starts making a noise it does not usually make, you should schedule a heating maintenance check to find out what the problem is. Clicking noises often indicate problems with the flame sensor. Meanwhile, squealing noises typically originate from the motor that powers the system that distributes hot air around your home. Whatever sound your furnace is making, get it checked out as soon as possible.

3. Yellow Pilot Flame

A furnace pilot light should be blue. If yours has a yellow flame, that could indicate that incomplete combustion is occurring inside your furnace. As well as being inefficient, incomplete combustion also results in the production of carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas. Check your carbon monoxide detector — a device that all homes using gas heating should have — and contact a heating repair service.

4. Sooty Furnace Vents

Another telltale signal of incomplete combustion is soot forming around the furnace vents. If you clean away the soot only for it to build up again quickly, it is definitely time to have your furnace maintained.

5. Taking a Long Time to Start Up

Well-functioning furnaces quickly heat up. If you have a furnace that has started to take a long time to come up to its ideal temperature, reach out to a local heating repair service. The problem could lie with the ducts, the thermostat, or some other part of your furnace.

6. Furnace Doesn't Get Hot Enough

If your heating system never manages to bring your home up to the temperature you desire, there could be an issue with either the thermostat or some other part of the furnace. Thermostat repair is fast and inexpensive, so do not hesitate to contact a trusted local heating service today.

To learn more, contact a heating repair service today.

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