You rely on your furnace to keep your home warm when the temperatures are low. However, because your furnace stays off during hotter months, you may only realize the system is damaged when you turn it on during the colder months.
It is essential to schedule furnace repairs as soon as you realize your furnace is acting up. Look out for the following signs if you suspect your furnace needs repairs.
A Yellow Pilot Light
The pilot light inside your furnace should be blue. Any other color indicates something is amiss in your furnace. A yellow pilot light indicates a ventilation problem in your furnace.
When there is poor ventilation in your furnace, carbon monoxide and other gases cannot dissipate. Thus, you may have a carbon monoxide leak. Carbon monoxide is highly poisonous and may make you sick if you inhale it. Gas leaks may even make your unit combustible.
Odd Smells
When you turn on your furnace after a long time of disuse, you might notice a smell similar to the fuel it uses. This odor will disappear once you run your furnace for a few days.
However, if you notice an odd smell that stays even after you have used your furnace for a long time, it’s worth calling your technician for an inspection. Strange smells might indicate a gas leak or a build-up of dust inside the furnace.
Low Heat
A furnace that does not heat your home adequately is not doing its job and therefore needs repairs. If your furnace does not heat your home regardless of the thermostat settings, the system may have a damaged thermostat.
Clogged filters may also restrict airflow to your furnace, which limits its ability to distribute warm air all over your house. Your HVAC may also have a ductwork leak that interferes with the distribution of warm air.
Persistent Odd Noises
No furnace runs silently, but you might have already gotten used to the sound of your furnace to the point where you don’t notice the sound anymore. Luckily, once you get used to a specific sound from your furnace, you can easily notice an odd sound.
Bangs as your furnace cycles indicate delays in furnace ignition. These delays may mean your furnace has a faulty ignitor or low gas pressure. Squealing indicates worn belts and bearings. However, if the squealing sound is high-pitched, your furnace may have a dirty air filter or clogged vents.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
If you haven’t changed the air filter on your furnace for a long time, you may notice a decline in indoor air quality. Once dust and particles accumulate on the air filters, they spread throughout the house whenever the furnace is on.
You may observe floating dust when the furnace is on. If you or any members of your household have allergies, they may flare up more frequently. Changing your dirty air filters will restore your indoor air quality. However, if dust has built up in your ductwork and furnace, you need to have the system professionally cleaned.
Water Leaks
You probably have a water leak if you notice a puddle next to your furnace. Condensation is a common culprit when you have water leaks. Condensation usually means you have a clogged or broken condensation line.
A clog in the internal drainage system or a fault in a humidifier connected to your furnace may also cause water leaks.
It is essential to keep your furnace in top condition to avoid breakdowns when you need it the most. Moreover, a properly maintained furnace will last longer, so you never have to replace your furnace before the end of the indicated lifespan.
If you have observed any of the above signs of damage on your furnace, the Steele Brothers Heating, Inc. technicians can help. Contact us today for furnace repairs in Colorado.
