Of all the household problems you could have, furnace issues top the list as the worst. The last thing you want is to come home after a long day of work to find out that your furnace stopped working and your home is freezing on one of the coldest days of the year.
The good news is, furnaces don’t just break overnight without any warning signs. If you pay attention, you can identify furnace problems early and repair them before they lead to a complete furnace breakdown. If you notice anything unusual and think that you need furnace repair in Meridian, ID, our team is here to help. In the meantime, you can keep reading to learn more about furnace repair signs that can’t be ignored.
Bad Odors
Your furnace should never produce a bad smell. The only time your furnace might smell bad is when you first turn it on each winter. The bad smell is just stale air that was trapped in the system during the off season, but it shouldn’t last longer than 15 or 20 minutes before going away. If you notice a burning smell, something may be broken inside of your furnace. Burning smells are particularly concerning if you have a gas furnace since it may be leaking carbon monoxide. If the air coming out of your furnace smells musty, you may have a mold or mildew problem.
Ignition Problems
Your furnace should always turn on quickly when the thermostat signals that it’s time to begin heating your home. If there’s a delay in your furnace turning on, it may be that your ignition is not lighting as it should. If your furnace is taking more than one attempt to turn on or restarts throughout the day, you need to have an expert take a look. Sometimes it’s an easy fix, like wiping away dust and dirt buildup inside the furnace. Other times something major needs to be replaced. Either way, allowing the problem to continue will just lead to more damage.
Hot and Cold Spots
Your furnace should always heat your home evenly. If you notice that one room or area of your house is significantly warmer or cooler than the rest of the house, something is wrong with your furnace. It’s possible that this problem has gone on for so long that you’re used to it, but that doesn’t mean it’s normal. Even if your furnace is still working with no other warning signs, you still need to get it looked at.
Unusual Sounds
The one sound that is completely normal for your furnace to make on a regular basis is a whirring sound. This means that the furnace is working well to heat air and blow it into your home. But other sounds that are loud or alarming can mean that something is wrong inside of your furnace. If you notice any banging, rattling, or scraping, you need to turn off your furnace and leave it off until our team can take a look at it.
Leaking Water
Water leaks are not a huge problem since they usually just mean that your condensation drain is clogged. It’s easy to wipe up the water and go about your day hoping that it was a one time thing. But allowing leaks to continue can do damage to your home and lead to mold and mildew growth. Thankfully, if you address the problem immediately, it’s an easy fix.
Here at Idaho Heating & Air, Your Comfort Is Our Priority! Contact us today to schedule an appointment for heating assistance.