A fully-functioning furnace is what every homeowner should have in their house for the cold season. Your comfort and that of your family depends on it when temperatures fall and the chill sets in. Hopefully, you’d have done the maintenance work required on your furnace before fall. Scheduling a furnace tune-up can ensure that you will be prepared for the cold with a furnace that won’t let you down. How do you know if your furnace needs a tune-up? Here‘s a look at some of the most common signs to look out for.
Uncomfortable Indoor Home Temperature
A furnace that has been lying dormant for a while can have a few surprises for you. It may not heat your home the same as before. When you first fire up your furnace for the season, be mindful of how heat is distributed throughout your home and where the heat goes. If heat isn’t provided by your furnace, or if heat is unevenly distributed, those are clear signs a tuneup is needed.
Furnace Gives Off Unusual Sounds
It’s not uncommon for furnaces to give off some noise when started for the first use for the fall. The typical click and pop sounds shouldn’t alarm you. Signs that your furnace needs a tuneup include persistent sounds like grinding, rattling, scraping, or squeaking. Your furnace shouldn’t make these kinds of noises for a prolonged period.
Short Cycling Furnace
A short cycling furnace is on that repeatedly turns on and off, preventing the system from running for a complete cycle. Your thermostat is in charge of temperature control in your home and is a key component of your HVAC system. A furnace that cannot perform optimally and reach the desired indoor temperature, tends to add pressure to the system attempting to heat the space, which causes it to short cycle. This can cause damage to the furnace that could prove costly, or worst, premature furnace failure.
A Jump in Your Utility Bill
According to Energy Star, the average annual bill for a home that features a gas furnace and central air is roughly $875, which is 43% of the total spending on energy for a year. During the cold season when you use your furnace, a small increase in your energy bill is expected. However, it shouldn’t be such that you question what’s going on. If this happens, your furnace may be doing double its normal work, which is a sign that it’s time to have it checked out. During a tuneup. Professional technicians can do their assessment and inform you of the particular problem with your furnace that needs to be addressed.
Pilot Light Not Bright Blue
A normal furnace pilot light is always bright blue. If you notice that it’s changed from bright blue color to yellow or orange, it’s signaling that something is not quite right with your furnace. A yellow or orange light will appear if your furnace is not burning at optimal levels, or signals that you have carbon monoxide leakage.
Contact Elite Plumbing & Heating in Stoneham
If you still need a furnace tuneup, schedule an appointment with us at Elite Plumbing & Heating today to ensure that your system is in tip-top shape. Our team of professional technicians will ensure that your furnace is performing at optimal levels and give you peace of mind. You can expect the best quality service from us! Give us a call at 781-438-2997 or fill out a contact form!
