3 Signs You Need Emergency Furnace Repair
Call for Emergency Furnace Repair Before a Catastrophe Happens
Fall weather brings Friday night lights, pumpkin spice lattes, falling leaves, and oh yeah, it’s time to turn on the heater. Yes, when the temperature drops, it is time to slide the thermostat setting from COOL to HEAT.
Turning the heat on for the first time comes with a brief smelly interlude, while the dust burns off the idle burners. But then everything is just right. Well, you hope it is alright.
The HVAC system runs differently during the heating season than it does for air conditioning; some things about the heating season might feel a little different.
It is important to know which differences are normal and which are indicators of trouble ahead. Here are the top trouble markers for furnace troubles.
Unfamiliar Smells Could Mean You are Headed for an Emergency Furnace Repair
During the cooling season, unusual smells are generally associated with moisture—musty, damp, mold, or mildew smells. During the heating season, expect the smells to be different.
- It is normal to smell a burning odor for the first few minutes of the first heating cycle. Any burning odor afterward indicates a problem.
- Any exhaust smell inside the home should illicit immediate action. Turn the furnace off and call a technician. Do not turn the system on again until the problem is corrected.
- Natural gas is an odorless and colorless gas and, therefore it is very difficult to detect. Utility companies add Mercaptan, a foul-smelling gas, to their product to make it easier to detect.1 We so closely associate that smell with natural gas, so when you detect the smell, turn off the system, turn off the gas, open the doors, and evacuate. Then call a repair technician.
Unusual Noises Could Lead to Emergency Furnace Repair at the Most Inopportune Time
Some systems are whisper-quiet, and some systems are noticeably loud. However, the noises coming from the furnace do not change much, it is consistent. A sudden noise change or a rapid increase in volume often indicates trouble ahead.
- Screeching, grinding, and rumbling noise is most often associated with the blower motor since it is the only moving part of the furnace. These noises are early warning signs of component failure.
- Humming and buzzing noises indicate an imminent failure of an electrical component.
- Thermostats often click at the beginning and the end of a heating cycle, but more frequent noises are indicators of needed repairs.
Cold Spots
If one room suddenly grows colder than normal, it does indicate a problem developing.
- Check the air filter. A clogged filter will restrict airflow, reducing the amount of warm air entering the home.
- Inspect the vents in the room to make sure none of them are covered. Check the return air vents as well.
- Other causes may require the assistance of a repair technician and include diminished furnace efficiency, ductwork leaks, or thermostat problems.
Statement Shock
A sudden rise in utility bills can indicate a major problem developing and could lead to an Emergency Furnace Repair, even though the cost of energy is also on the rise.
The cost of energy has been rising steadily, but, with a little research, you can uncover the cause of the rising cost.
- Compare the amount of electricity used at the same time last year. Electricity is sold in kilowatt-hours, abbreviated kWhs. If the number of kWhs is significantly higher than last year, it may indicate a problem with the furnace.
- Compare the amount of natural gas used at the same time last year. Natural gas is sold in cubic feet, abbreviated cf. If the volume of natural gas is significantly higher than last year, it indicates a problem with the furnace’s efficiency.
Need Emergency Furnace Repair, Call Us Today!
Contact our Emergency Furnace Repair team at Doctor Cool & Professor Heat today at 281-338-8751 or email Doctor Cool and let our professional Residential Emergency Furnace Repair technicians assist with all of your HVAC maintenance questions.
1 https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Mercaptan#:~:text=Mercaptan%2C%20also%20known%20as%20methanethiol,leaks%20do%20not%20go%20undetected
