Your furnace is an essential part of your home, especially during the cold autumn and winter months. If your furnace stops working or starts to perform with reduced efficiency, you’ll likely notice an impact on your home comfort and energy/gas bills. As a leading provider of complete commercial and residential HVAC services, the team at Primo Heat knows how detrimental a damaged or failing furnace can be. That’s why we have put together a list of signs that your furnace needs repairs to help you identify potential issues before they become a costly problem.
Learn how to maximize the life of your gas furnace.
4 Signs of a Failing or Damaged Furnace
If you have experienced any of the following signs, your furnace may be nearing the end of its usable life or in need of repairs:
1. Lingering Odours
Furnaces may occasionally smell like the fuel they use. For example, if you have a furnace that uses natural gas, you may smell rotten eggs when starting your furnace for the first time during heating season . This smell should dissipate as the system runs for a few minutes. If you notice a lingering odour after your system has been running for a while, you will need to shut your furnace down and immediately contact an HVAC professional to have your system inspected and repaired or replaced if needed.
2. Abnormal Noises
While furnaces will make noise during operation, some sounds are not normal and can be a sign of damaged or failing components. If you notice excessive clicking, rattling, humming, banging, scraping, or squealing while your furnace is in use, your unit may be damaged and requires an inspection to determine the cause.
3. Your Unit is Blowing Cold Air
Your furnace is meant to heat your home. If you notice your furnace is running but only producing cold air, this is a clear indicator that something is wrong with the unit. While the problem could be something like a dirty air filter or blocked air duct, it could also be something more complex like a defective pilot light or malfunctioning blower motor. Regardless of the issue, it is worth contacting a professional to diagnose the issue(s) and perform repairs as needed.
4. More Frequent Cycling
If you feel as though your furnace is frequently cycling on and off (over cycling), this can be a sign of damaged or failing components. This problem can be especially prevalent in furnaces that are more than 15 years old, as this is the average rated lifespan of most units. If your furnace is cycling on more frequently, you may also notice an increased gas or energy bill, further indicating that your system is running more than it needs to. Over cycling, frequent thermostat adjustments, and increased energy bills are all signs of a failing or damaged furnace, so it is crucial to have your unit inspected as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of these issues.
To learn more about our heating and cooling services or to inquire about our gas furnace products, get in touch with the team at Primo Heat. We can be reached through our online contact form and will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our products or services.