You may have heard that when an appliance like a furnace or an air conditioner starts to experience a problem, the first sign is often a strange noise. While this can be true, you also shouldn’t rely entirely on your ears to tell you something is wrong with your furnace.
Some furnace issues are silent, and you’ll only notice them if you’re attentive to other signs. Here’s what you should know.
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Odors
When you first turn your furnace on in the fall, there may be a smell of overheated dust that dissipates quickly. A burning smell at any other time, or which doesn’t go away, may point to an overheating component. A dangerous electrical problem can smell like fish. And if you smell eggs or sulfur, get out of the house and get emergency help: it’s a gas leak.
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Colors
Natural gas should always burn blue. A yellow or orange flame can indicate incomplete combustion. This may mean a problem with the burners, or that some other gasses (air) have entered the system from a damaged gas line or cracked heat exchanger. Don’t risk breathing carbon monoxide! You need furnace repair urgently.
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Soot or Corrosion
Sooty buildup in the furnace itself can be an indicator of a cracked heat exchanger. Corrosion of any part of the furnace should be checked out by a qualified professional. If there’s rust anywhere, it’s important to know what components are affected and whether any of them need to be replaced.
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Shutdowns
If your furnace tries to come on but shuts down, perhaps doing it again a moment later, your home will never get warm. Frequent start-ups also put the system through a lot of strain and use a lot of energy. When your furnace shuts off before reaching temperature, there are a variety of possible causes (the burner, the flame sensor, the limit switch) and a technician can provide a clear diagnosis.
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Insufficient Heat
If your furnace doesn’t shut down but still doesn’t get your home warm enough, there may be a problem with the burner. Another possibility is that the issue lies in your ductwork, perhaps some damage that is allowing your heated air to escape to somewhere that you don’t need it, like your attic.
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Low Airflow
The warm air coming from your vents should remain as plentiful as it ever was. A reduction in airflow means that no matter how warm the air is, it won’t circulate well throughout your home. Your first step should be to check the air filter, in case a clog there is limiting the air. If the problem persists, get a professional to take a look.
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High Energy Bills
Heating is always expensive, but if your bills are much higher than they were at the same time last year, a furnace repair could help to address the inefficiency. Many of the issues listed above can cause your furnace to consume more fuel, so if you’re concerned about your bills, poke around and see if you can spot any of the other signs.
Don’t hesitate to get answers to any questions you may have about your heating in San Antonio. Having repairs done promptly can prevent problems from worsening, so you can avoid more extensive repairs or even furnace replacement.
Our professionals are ready to take care of you when you reach out. Contact Cowboys Air Conditioning & Heating today to schedule an appointment with our professionals.
