Worried your heater could break down at any moment? If you don’t know the signs that a heater needs repair, maybe you should be. It’s never fun to have to repair a heating system, but it’s even worse when your heater has broken down completely, calling for an emergency repair that could cost you even more.
Experts say it’s important to repair a heating system early in order to avoid sudden system breakdowns and higher repair costs. In addition, the sooner you repair your system, the lower your monthly bills may be, and the longer your system can last. Check out the signs you may have a heater in need of repair sooner rather than later.
#1: You hear odd noises from the cabinet or vents
What makes it difficult to detect heating system issues sometimes is that it can be easy to ignore problems that aren’t really getting in your way. An odd noise from the cabinet of the furnace may be something that is not a bother, especially when you don’t hang out in the area of your furnace all day.
But it can be a sign of a major issue. A buzzing noise could indicate something electrical, and a screech may signal a worn-out belt that could break at any moment. A pop or bang could even be dangerous, potentially damaging the heat exchanger.
#2: You spend way too much on heating
You shouldn’t be surprised that your heating bills go up as the weather gets cooler. That means your heater is running for longer, which means it’s working. But if you seem to be spending far more than you did last year around the same time, you should suspect a problem. Most likely, you’ll also notice your heater is running nonstop instead of cycling properly, and this should be checked out ASAP.
#3: You can’t seem to get the thermostat up high enough
If it seems like no matter how high you turn up the thermostat, it’s still not warm enough, there’s a problem. And chances are, that problem has nothing to do with the thermostat itself. Your heating system is running nonstop to try to meet your preferred settings, and this causes parts to wear down quickly, meaning you’re likely to have to replace the system sooner rather than later. It’s important to call in technicians ASAP.
#4: You notice brief, sporadic cycling
We call this “short-cycling,” and it’s something that shouldn’t be ignored. When an air conditioner short cycles, it’s not running long enough to complete a heating cycle. Worse yet, it’s using a ton of energy every time it has to start and stop and start again.
#5: The pilot light is yellow
“Wait…isn’t this the color a flame is supposed to be?” Not if you want your furnace operating safely. The light at the burner should always be blue, or else there may be substances present on the burners interfering with operation and safety, such as rust. Shut off the heater if you notice flame discoloration, and call expert technicians as soon as you can.
When you need furnace repair in Lebanon, OH, you can count on the team at Bartels Heating & Cooling.