You turn the thermostat up but still feel that bone chilling cold creeping in through the walls. Your furnace just isn’t warming your home up the way it should.
This means there is most likely something wrong with your furnace and it needs professional servicing and repairs. But before you pick up the phone for repairs, you’ll want to do some basic troubleshooting yourself.
Keep reading to understand the most common signs that your furnace is due for some repairs, what steps you should take to inspect your system, when to call in a pro, and how to find the best HVAC company to do the job.
What to Look for When Your Furnace Is Having Problems
How to Know If Your Furnace Is Not Heating & Needs Professional Repairs? Look out for these red flags:
- The temperature inside your house is lower than your thermostat setting. If it regularly reads several degrees lower than your thermostat setting, your furnace is probably not generating enough heat.
- Certain rooms are colder than others. If you find that some rooms or areas of your home are drafty and markedly colder, this indicates a problem with airflow and your ductwork.
- You hear funny noises from your furnace. Unusual sounds such as loud banging, screeching or rumbling noises indicate an issue.
- It sounds like the furnace is cycling on and off. If your furnace is short cycling (switching on and off quickly), there’s a problem with the heating elements, thermostat or sensors.
- You smell gas or smoke nearby the furnace. Furnace smelling like burning / gas: Any kind of burning or gas smell from the furnace may indicate a severe problem and safety hazard.
- The furnace will not turn on at all. If you get no turn-on when the thermostat calls for heating the furnace has an electrical or ignition fault.
If you see any of these warnings’ signs, it’s time to examine your furnace closely.
Give Your Furnace a Quick Inspection
Before you call for furnace repair help, you can do a quick inspection yourself to get additional clues about the problem. Here are some important things to look for:
- Check the thermostat. Ensure that it is set correctly, and the temperature of the room is, proper. Check that the thermostat display shows it is calling for heat.
- Check the furnace filter. Having a dirty filter will block airflow.
- Check the control panel for blinking indicator lights. Consult your owner’s manual to decode what diagnostic codes or abnormal lights mean.
- Open up the cover to the furnace and check the blower. Check for debris buildup and dust you might have missed. Make sure the blower rotates freely.
- Make sure burners are igniting. See the flames light through the little view port while the furnace is firing up.
- Listen and sniff for anything that is out of the ordinary. Look out for any burning smells, loud rattling or other strange noises.
- Check the exhaust vent pipe. Make sure it’s not blocked. Check for rust, damage or leaks.
- Inspect supply and return air ducts Check that dampers are open, vents aren’t blocked, and cold air returns aren’t blocked.
A quick visual inspection like this can turn up simple problems you might be able to address yourself, such as cleaning a dirty filter.
You’ll also be collecting useful information to pass along to the furnace repair technician.
Knowing When to Call a Professional for Furnace Repairs
Certain minor furnace issues can be solved with DIY maintenance and light repairs, but there are also more serious heating problems that require an experienced, professional hand. If you experience one of the following, it’s time to call your furnace repair company:
- You inspect it and see heavy dirt accumulation, rust, damage or leaks.
- Furnaces that don’t fire up or ignite when called for.
- You smell gas or smoke coming from the furnace.
- On the phone with the repairman. The furnace is making strange noises.
- Rooms seem to be unevenly heated or cold air seeps inside.
- The problem resurfaces with almost immediate effect after you try to resolve it.
- You don’t get what the issue is coming from.
A knowledgeable HVAC technician has the training, experience and diagnostic tools to properly determine whatever is wrong with your furnace and help get it appropriately fixed. Doing many repairs yourself when you aren’t trained to do so could worsen or create problems or be dangerous.
Let the pros take care of any repairs that require technical skill. Meaning once your issues are fully resolved, you can rest assured that THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER.
How to Select an HVAC Company You Can Count on for Quality Service
It takes a bit of research to find an HVAC company you can trust to take care of high-quality furnace repair service. Seek an established local business that has these qualities:
- NATE Certified Technicians North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification is the gold standard that any competent HVAC tech should possess.
- They provide emergency furnace repairs 24 hours a day. Pick a firm that offers after-hours emergency service for significant furnace problems.
- They are customer service oriented. Seek responsiveness, open lines of communication and a customer-centric process.
- The company has background experience. Look for HVAC companies with many years or even decades of experience serving your local area.
- They support repairs with guarantees. Reputable companies offer a guarantee on furnace repair.
- They have good reviews on the internet. Look back at reviews from previous customers regarding their visit experience
A particular furnace repair company assures that the transports will be diagnosed and fixed right at the time. Your family will remain warm and comfortable through the winter months.
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