7 Signs Your Furnace Needs Repair or Replacement
As winter continues to keep us in a deep freeze in the north Denver area, it’s important to ensure your furnace is running smoothly. Furnaces are essential to keeping a home warm during the winter months. However, furnaces can be expensive to repair and replace.
But how do you know when it’s time for a repair or replacement? To avoid costly repairs and replacements to your furnace, it is important to recognize the signs that indicate your furnace needs attention.
Here are 7 signs that it might be time for you to replace or repair your furnace.
1. Unusual Noises or Odors Coming From The Unit
If you notice any unusual smells coming from your furnace, turn it off immediately and contact a professional. An unusual odor like rotten eggs could indicate a gas leak, which is dangerous and should be addressed as soon as possible. Leaking gas can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Leave your house and call us immediately if you think you have a gas leak.
If you smell something burning, such as plastic or rubber odors when your heater runs, then this means something could have gone wrong with its internal components. Or a strong smell of dirt or dust means that your heat exchanger has too much dust that has built up on it, thus affecting its performance.
Also keep an ear out for strange noises coming from the unit, such as rattling, clunking, humming, or buzzing – these all point to something wrong with the internal components of the furnace and should likewise be professionally inspected. It could also be an indication that the motor bearings are wearing out and need to be replaced.
2. Increased Energy Bills
Has your energy bill been steadily increasing even though you haven’t changed how you use heat? If you’ve noticed an increase in energy bills without any major changes to your home’s energy usage habits, this could be an indication that your furnace isn’t working efficiently.
An inefficient furnace has to work harder to produce less heat, costing more money in the process. If you suspect this is happening with your unit, our professional HVAC technicians can inspect it to identify what exactly is causing the issue.
3. Frequent Cycling On/Off
Does it seem like your furnace cycles on and off more frequently than normal? If you notice that your furnace turns on and off every few minutes rather than staying on consistently, this could signal a problem with airflow or ventilation within the unit itself.
When airflow is restricted, the system has difficulty regulating its temperature and will turn itself on/off more frequently than normal in order to compensate for this lack of regulation. This could indicate several different problems such as incorrect thermostat settings, poor unit maintenance, dirty air filters, blocked vents, worn out parts inside the system, etc.
Our professionals at Craig Plumbing, Heating and Cooling can inspect and repair any component causing this issue so that your furnace runs properly and safely once again.
4. Inconsistent Temperatures Throughout The Home
If certain areas of your home are colder than others despite having the same temperature setting on the thermostat, this could mean there’s an issue with air circulation within the home or even with the system itself. One reason for uneven heating is an issue with airflow through your vents or duct work caused by a broken blower fan motor or fan blade on the unit itself.
This type of problem needs to be inspected by a certified HVAC technician who can identify and resolve whatever issue is preventing consistent temperatures throughout all areas of your home. You may need repairs or a new system entirely in order to get even heating throughout all rooms in your house again.
5. Age Of The Unit
Furnaces typically last anywhere between 15-20 years depending on how well they have been maintained throughout their lifespan. If yours has been around for longer than 15 years then it may be time for a replacement – especially if you’ve had frequent repairs done over those years!
A new furnace is often more efficient than older models; not only will you get better performance but also lower energy bills over time!
6. Discolored Pilot Light Or Flame Sensor Issues
The pilot light (or flame sensor) should always burn blue; if it burns yellow or orange then there’s likely something wrong with either the pilot light, flame sensor, or proper ventilation.
A discolored pilot light can also lead to carbon monoxide buildup and cause health issues or even death. You should get immediate attention from a qualified technician.
7. Poor Air Quality
If you notice dust buildup on surfaces throughout the house or if family members experience allergies while indoors, this could signal an issue with the air quality of your home. This may indicate a problem with the airflow of your furnace or even a leak in its duct work system; both of which require professional assistance from an HVAC technician at Craig Plumbing, Heating and Cooling to determine and fix the source of the problem.
Conclusion: Keeping up with regular maintenance on your furnace can save both time and money in terms of repairs down the road – however, sometimes problems still arise regardless of preventive measures taken beforehand!
Craig Plumbing, Heating & Cooling offers a Service Club annual inspection, which is the key to keeping your HVAC systems in great working order. With a service plan, homeowners can rest assured that their HVAC systems are being regularly maintained by a professional. This means that any small malfunctions will be identified and fixed before they have a chance to become bigger problems. In addition, our service plan includes discounted rates on repairs, meaning homeowners can save money in the event of an issue.
If you notice any of these six signs that indicate trouble with your unit then don’t hesitate to contact an HVAC technician right away in order to get them resolved quickly! Doing so will ensure safe operation while also preventing further damage from occurring along the way!