When it’s time for the furnace to kick on, the last thing that you need is a problem with it. Doesn’t it always seem like those problems happen after hours or on weekends and holidays, causing you to frantically search for Montgomery, AL HVAC contractors?
The best way to prevent issues with your furnace is to have a routine maintenance schedule to keep it in good operating condition. If you’re looking for someone you can trust to keep your furnace running efficiently, find a reputable company that has a team of highly trained technicians that can schedule a routine maintenance inspection and give free estimates. Below are a few signs to pay attention to if you think it might be time to have your furnace serviced. If any of these things are going on, the sooner you have them looked at, the easier and cheaper the repair will be.
You Have No Heat
Don’t panic! It doesn’t necessarily mean that your furnace needs to be replaced. There could be any number of issues that would cause your furnace to either be blowing cold air or not operating at all. Get it inspected as soon as possible so you know what the problem is.
Your Home’s Not as Warm as it Used to Be
That’s a big sign that your furnace isn’t operating as it should be. The problem could be anything from an issue with your thermostat, a faulty duct, or even the furnace itself. A routine maintenance inspection will tell you exactly what the problem is.
Does Your Furnace Seem to Be Running More Often?
It blows warm air until your home reaches your desired temperature. Then, your furnace will shut off until the thermostat tells it to kick on again. How often it kicks on and off should depend on how cold it is outside. But, if your furnace seems to be turning on and off a lot, it could be trying to tell you that there is something wrong.
A Spike in Utility Bills
Of course, they always seem to get a little higher every year. But, if you suddenly see a spike in usage when the furnace is running, it could be a sign that it’s working too hard to get the job done. That’s not only costing you more money on utilities, it’s also wearing on the internal parts of your furnace, shortening their lifespan.
Unusual Noises
You know what your furnace sounds like when it’s running the way it should be. If you begin to hear strange noises like banging or grinding, it’s time to call a professional. There could be any number of internal issues causing unusual sounds.
Is Your Furnace Leaking?
The floor underneath your furnace should always be dry. If you notice anything pooling on the floor around your furnace, it could be one of two things. Either it’s water or if you have a gas furnace, it could be gas leaking. Obviously, you’d want to get a pro involved quickly.
Different Smells
The first time that you turn it on for the season, you might smell a little musty aroma coming out of the vents that should go away fairly quickly. But, if you are smelling any other odors, especially if it smells like anything burning or gas itself, you’ll want an HVAC expert to investigate it quickly. It could be a potential fire or health hazard.
Carbon Monoxide
You should always have both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and without a detector, you’d have no idea that it was in your home. And it can kill you. If your carbon monoxide detector goes off, get out of your house immediately. Call a team of professionals that can quickly find the source of any leaks and take care of any necessary repairs to make your home safe again.
Is Your Home Dustier Than Normal?
Your furnace is actually acting as a ventilation system, moving air throughout your home. Air is pulled into the vents where it goes through the ducts to the furnace. The furnace’s filter will clean a lot of dirt and allergens out of the air before it goes through the furnace to be heated and distributed inside of your home. If any part of that process is compromised, more dust will accumulate than usual. And if all of that dust is settling on your furniture, just as much of it is inside of your furnace, where it will eventually cause problems.