As winter weather starts to set in, it’s time to get your furnace checked out. Common furnace warning signs may indicate major underlying problems. To avoid unexpected breakdowns, you should call a technician for maintenance and repairs as soon as you notice a problem. With timely maintenance, you can prevent costly repairs and a dangerously cold home. By calling the top furnace contractor early, you can improve your energy efficiency, increase your furnace’s lifespan, and ensure better peace of mind for your family.

Furnace Warning Signs

1) Unusual Noises Coming from the Furnace

Busy moms barely have time to make lunches and finish the laundry during a busy school week. Taking time out of your hectic schedule for furnace maintenance seems impossible. However, proper furnace care is a necessity. If you don’t make time for furnace maintenance now, you’ll be forced to make time for furnace repairs and breakdowns in the future.

This is especially true when it comes to furnace noises. Furnaces rarely break down without some type of advance warning, like weird sounds. Unusual noises mean you need to call a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician to inspect your furnace.

• Whining: A whining or squealing noise often means that there are belt or blower motor issues.
• Booming or Banging: Booming and banging noises tend to be caused by a delayed ignition. It may also be related to damage to your furnace.
• Rattling: When you hear a rattling noise, you could have issues with your ductwork. A loose component can also produce a rattling noise.
• Clicking: While a furnace is supposed to click when it starts its cycle, ongoing clicks indicate a faulty thermocouple, dirty burner, broken gas valve, or a bad ignition control board.
• Whistling: Whistling noises often mean that there is a damaged duct or dirty air filter.

2) Increased Energy Bills With No Change in Usage

Another one of the earliest furnace warning signs can be found on your energy bill. If you aren’t using your furnace significantly more, your energy consumption shouldn’t jump significantly. When sudden increases occur, it demonstrates that your furnace is working harder to reach the same temperature and using more energy. This may be caused by faulty parts, leaky ductwork,
and dirty air filters.

3) Inconsistent or Insufficient Heating

All of your home’s interior should be the same temperature. If you have hot and cold spots, it means that the furnace might not be working properly. For instance, you may have a blocked or leaky duct. A faulty thermostat can prevent the furnace from sensing the temperature correctly. Additionally, an old furnace may struggle to evenly heat your home.

4) Frequent Cycling On and Off

When the furnace turns on and off frequently, it is called short cycling. This can happen for many different reasons.

• Overcapacity Furnaces: If your furnace is larger than your home needs, it will reach the desired temperature too quickly and shut off. Then, it has to turn on as soon as the temperature drops again.
• Clogged Filters: When you have clogged air filters, it can cause your furnace to overheat.
• Thermostat Problems: Sometimes, a faulty thermostat will get erratic readings and signal the furnace to short cycle.

If you don’t fix the underlying problem, short cycling can cause lasting damage. Once you notice
this issue, reach out to an HVAC company right away for help.

5) Yellow Pilot Light or Strange Smells

Another one of the most common furnace warning signs is your pilot light’s color or smell. When the pilot light is working properly, it should be a consistent blue color. A flickering light, weird smells, and yellow hues are all signs of an issue.

• Rotten Egg Scents: The smell of rotten eggs means that you may have a gas leak.
• Yellow or Flickering Lights: A yellow, flickering light means that combustion isn’t happening completely, which is creating carbon monoxide.
• Burning Odors: A burning smell can stem from overheating. However, it may be due to dust as well.

To ensure your family’s safety, it’s important to get your furnace checked out by a professional. Gas leaks and carbon monoxide are hazardous, so schedule a maintenance appointment with an HVAC technician.

6) Furnace Blowing Cold Air

When a furnace blows cold air, it indicates an underlying issue, like obstructed ducts, thermostat problems, or a faulty pilot light. While you can check the pilot light and thermostat on your own, you’ll need a technician to handle any repairs and more intensive troubleshooting.

7) Constant Need for Repairs

If you need furnace repairs all the time, you may be better off getting a replacement. Besides saving you money on repairs, a replacement can improve your energy efficiency. While older models had an efficiency of 56% to 70%, new furnaces can efficiently convert fuel to energy at a rate of up to 98.5%.

If you have frequent repairs, start by thinking about the age of your furnace. In general, furnaces become less efficient after they are 15 years old or older. Additionally, you should also consider how much you could save on your power bill and how expensive the necessary repairs are.

Get Help for Common Furnace Issues

With cold weather on the horizon, you don’t want to risk having a furnace breakdown during frigid temperatures. As soon as you notice common furnace warning signs, reach out for professional help. A qualified technician can save you a significant amount of money on long- term repairs and can increase your furnace’s lifespan.