The absolutely last thing you need to worry about during this time of the year is whether or not your heating system is going to make it through winter. Of course, if your furnace has been routinely maintained by a professional and you keep on top of your heating repair needs, this shouldn’t be a concern.
But what if you don’t know when your furnace needs service–meaning, you don’t know the signs that it is in disrepair? Well, that’s what we’re here for!
We want to start by saying, the best way to fend off heavy repair needs is with routine maintenance. Whether you have an electric or a gas-powered furnace in your household, you should be staying on top of your annual maintenance appointments. This will help the system work as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible.
Keep in mind though, while maintenance protects against big, surprise repair needs, your system will still need some repairs throughout its service life. Read on to learn signs that yours is, in fact, in need of professional repairs.
Loud or Unfamiliar Noises
It can sometimes be difficult to figure out if you have a problem with your heating system if that problem isn’t actively getting in the way of your comfort. A strange noise coming from the cabinet of your furnace, for example, might be something you’re tempted to brush off. if it’s not impacting how hot the air is coming through your vents, why bother addressing it, right?
Well, because it could be the sign of something that can grow into a much bigger problem. For example, a buzzing noise can indicate something wrong with the electrical connections, which can lead to a potential fire hazard, while a screeching sound might mean that you have motor bearings that are wearing out.
Banging, or popping, can be the sign of a potentially dangerous issue with the furnace burners in a gas furnace.
Higher Than Average Utility Bills
We’re sure that if you’re like many homeowners, you think that your utility bills are too high anyway. This is a pretty subjective concept after all. But what we would like you to do is examine your energy bills in comparison to last year’s bills.
Are they dramatically higher? Unless you’ve started using a large, energy-consuming appliance this year that you haven’t in previous years, this is a sign that something in your home is working inefficiently. It could very well be your heater to blame, since HVAC systems take up over half of all a home’s energy use!
Short-Cycling
Furnaces are designed to run in 15-minute increments, 2-3 times an hour. If your system is running more often than this, and its cycles are less than 15 minutes each, this is called short-cycling. This is both the symptom of a problem that already exists in your furnace, plus it can cause further damage as it jostles components in the system.
Established in 1912, Max Sr & Paul Schoenwalder Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, A Corp. is your trusted resource for reliable heater repair in Short Hills, NJ. Reach out to us today.