A furnace or heat pump is the heart of a home’s heating system. Receiving a reliable flow of heat isn’t something to take for granted. By understanding and paying attention to how your heater operates, you can learn to recognize the 8 signs you need to schedule a heating repair.
1. Cold Spots Throughout Your Home
Are some rooms in your home comfortable while others remain cold and drafty even when you adjust the thermostat? If this is true for you, your furnace might be struggling to distribute heat evenly throughout your home. Your ductwork could also be contributing to uneven heating. Our technicians can inspect your home’s ductwork to identify and correct any airflow problems.
2. Banging, Clanking, and Screeching Sounds
Furnaces will make some sounds while operating, but any banging, clanking, or screeching should catch your attention. These loud noises signal that your heating system needs to be repaired. For example, screeching could be caused by a motor bearing slipping out of place or being worn out. When you hear these noises, it is in your best interest to reach out to an HVAC specialist company like Atlas HVAC Inc. We can diagnose and fix the issue.
3. Unusual Odors
Do you notice weird-smelling odors every time your furnace turns on? If so, your heating system is alerting you to a potential problem. Stale, musty odors indicate the presence of biological growth in your furnace, like mold. This smell arrives when excess humidity is in the home or moisture is in your heating system.
4. Poor Indoor Air Quality
If a lot of coughing or sneezing happens at home, your heating system could be to blame. A malfunctioning furnace can release contaminants such as allergens, dust, and other harmful particles into the air. Regularly changing your furnace’s air filter can reduce the number of indoor pollutants. Still, it would be best if you had a service technician inspect the furnace for ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality.
5. Short Cycling or Constantly Operating
Short cycling is when your furnace turns on and off for short periods. It typically means the heat exchanger is malfunctioning. However, a heating system that continues to operate for long periods without turning off is also a sign that something could be wrong with your system.
6. Abnormal Pilot Light Colors
If you use a gas-powered furnace to heat your home, look carefully at the pilot light. There should be a blue flame. If your pilot light’s flame is red, orange, purple, or yellow, your furnace isn’t working correctly. These abnormal pilot light colors indicate the presence of rust or other harmful compounds. If these particles are not professionally removed, they can reduce the efficiency of your furnace and release harmful pollutants into the air.
7. Frequent Thermostat Adjustments
If you’re frequently adjusting the thermostat to keep your house warm, your furnace isn’t heating your home efficiently. If you turn the thermostat up and down several times a day to regulate temperatures, your heating system has to work harder to adjust. You’ll then have to pay higher utility bills than necessary during winter.
8. Cold Air Coming from Registers and Vents
What should you do when cold air from your furnace enters through registers and vents? Check your home’s circuit breaker to make sure your heating system is receiving electricity to power it. Call us to schedule a heating repair if the system is receiving power but not turning on.
Knowing and identifying these 8 signs can help you establish if you need to schedule a repair for your furnace. You’ll want to reach out to an HVAC professional to take care of the issues before the colder months return to San Diego. For prompt, professional heating repair service, reach out to Atlas HVAC Inc. We will discuss all your heating repair and replacement options with you before beginning your fixes. Call us at (877) 452-8527 or visit our website for a free quote.
